7/25/2019 Cloud Computing Nexsus

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Cloud computing: the nexus of strategy and technology

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of Cloud technologies on management practices and business strategies. It considers the role ofhuman resource management (HRM) departments in supporting the organisational changes required for the introduction and integration of Cloudbusiness strategies.

Design/methodology/approach The study uses a qualitative eploratory research approach. It utilises the resource vie! of the firm and transaction costs economics (TC") tosupport the analysis. It synthesises the literature !ith the qualitative intervie! data.

Findings Cloud business models require organisations to focus on the neus of business strategies and information and communication technology (ICT)capabilities. HRM departments can play a positive role in this process by better integrating ICT sections into business decisionma#ing processes.Cloud technologies may further change ICT !or#er functions and roles.

Research limitations/implications $ualitative research approaches may limit the generality of the findings. Ho!ever they allo!ed for an indepth analysis of comple Cloud relateddata that quantitative approaches may not have elicited.

Practical implications

The paper outlines a strategic %holistic& approach for organisations shifting to Cloudbased business models.

Social implications The paper eamines the li#ely impacts of Cloud technologies on potential ICT !or#er redundancies.

Originality/value The Cloud as the neus of ICT and business and the potential role of HRM in facilitating shifts to Cloud business models have been underresearched areas to date. The paper is therefore of value to ICT' HRM and business strategy focused academics and practitioners.