Andreas Jede

Integrating cloud computing in supply chain processes: A comprehensive literature review

Purpose – There are cloud computing (CC) services available for various applications within supply chain management (SCM) processes and related enterprise information systems (ISs). These services offer, for example, consistent global networking platforms and shared real-time information. Furthermore, they enable quick decision making and ensure efficiency, which may strengthen competitive advantages as to digital processes within the supply chain (SC). However, research lacks a paper that systematically analyzes the interrelation between CC and SCM in detail and aims to become a reference point in the intersection of both research fields. Moreover, the purpose of this paper is to gain a deep understanding of the current state of research and to identify future research challenges. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a cross-discipline systematic literature review from the research perspectives of ISs and SCM. In total, 99 papers have been investigated by combining qualitative and quantitati...

Towards cloud-based supply chain processes: Designing a reference model and elements of a research agenda

Purpose – There are cloud computing (CC) services available for various applications within the supply chain management (SCM). These services offer, for example, consistent global networking platforms and enable quick decision making, which may strengthen competitive advantages. The specification of the single-related elements and the coordination mechanisms between actors and information flows is complex. In this paper, the authors argue that reference models can accelerate understanding these processes. The purpose of this paper is to gain an understanding of the current state of the underlying research field and to present a reference model that supports theory and practice in adopting CC services at SCM. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a cross-discipline systematic literature review from the research perspectives of information systems and SCM. Based on 102 papers, the authors designed a reference model showing the interrelations between various elements of CC and SCM. Findings – The...

Understanding Socio-Technical Impacts Arising from Software-as-a-Service Usage in Companies

Given the advantages of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), such as cost efficiency and flexibility gains, decision-makers increasingly deploy this technology for supporting business processes as well as core business processes. But the impact of SaaS integration on a company’s IT organization often does not become apparent until the implementation is completed. Therefore, this paper examines the perceptions of IT professionals in internal IT departments regarding the effects of SaaS. In order to analyze the changes in the daily work processes of internal IT professionals in companies using SaaS, we start with the design and test of a suitable quantitative research model. In a second step, we conduct triangulation by investigating four SaaS cases from the perspectives of internal IT professionals and end users. This step constitutes the qualitative part of the study. From the empirical results we can deduce that with an increasing SaaS usage level a socio-technical instability emerges in the perceived individual job outcome (e.g., job satisfaction, job acceptance, job significance). This is especially true for IT professionals. Our valuable findings help management to understand the need for balancing both their willingness for SaaS adoption and the socio-technical consequences.

Investigating preconditions for a financially advantageous cloud usage

Purpose - IT expenses constitute an important factor when choosing efficient IT systems. Especially with regard to cloud computing, decision makers tend to associate cost benefits. In this context, cloud providers present often undifferentiated sample calculations which aim to verify the financial favorability of their IT solutions. However, the scientific literature tries to encounter this by means of various total costs of ownership (TCO) approaches. But science mostly neglects essential factors as well and does not provide an integrated approach involving factors, such as (i) cost of capital, (ii) taxation effects, (iii) use intensity, or (iv) duration of use. Design/methodology/approach - The paper uses a multi-method approach. First, existing literature is analyzed by a systematic literature review. Afterwards, the initial model is developed by means of a formal notation. Finally, the suitability of the formal model is evaluated by a real-life case study, where simulation software is used for investigating various scenarios. Findings - The underlying paper discusses a formal model which integrates the four stated factors and enables decision makers to compare cloud based IT services on a comprehensive financial basis. Thus, the rational cost comparisons with traditional IT systems such as on-premise increase the transparency of the cloud computing field significantly. Originality/value - This paper shows impressively the importance of the four mentioned factors and their influence on the decision whether to implement cloud services or on-premise services. Herein, to the best of our knowledge and for the first time, a cash-flow based comparison model is created for comparing cloud services and on-premise solutions.

Looking Behind the Stage: Influence and Effect of Software-as-a-Service on Socio-technical Elements in Companies

With Software-as-a-Services (SaaS), benefits such a s cost efficiency and flexibility gains are associated, which drive decision-makers to increasi ngly take this technology into account not only for supporting business processes, but also for core bu siness processes. However, the trailing IT organizational impacts of SaaS integrations after t he implementation phase often remain hidden. This paper examines the effects of SaaS on the perceived t chnical change radicalness and the perceived IT organizational changes from the perspective of the socio-technical systems theory. We derive a research model that is suited to IT employees at Sa S using companies to investigate the changes in their daily tasks. The model is tested with data co lle ted from 66 IT employees from various sectors i n German-speaking countries. The empirical results in dicate that an increasing SaaS usage level leads to instability in the socio-technical balance of us ing companies. Especially the perceived individual job outcome, a measure for soft facts such as job s atisfaction, indicates that SaaS affects internal I T employees in a negative sense. Our valuable finding s help management to understand the need for balancing both their willingness for SaaS adoption and the social impacts. The understanding of this interrelation helps the enforcement of more sustain able SaaS implementations.

Unter welchen Voraussetzungen ist die Cloud-Nutzung vorteilhaft? – Ein Software-gestütztes Bewertungsmodell auf Basis eines vollständigen Cashflow-Vergleichs

Geeignete IT-Systeme werden nicht zuletzt unter Kostengesichtspunkten selektiert. Vor allem mit Cloud-Computing (CC) werden Kostenvorteile verbunden, die die Entscheidungstrager immer starker dazu treiben, CC-Teclmologien in Betracht zu ziehen. Dabei prasentieren zahlreiche Anbieter von Ce-Services oftmals undifferenzierte Beispielrechnungen, die von der finanziellen Vorteilhaftigkeit ihrer Losungen zeugen. Bei der Berucksichtigung von finanziellen Einflusskriterien mangelt es den Vergleichsrechnungen der Anbieter vor allem an Transparenz und Vollstandigkeit. Die wissenschaftliche und anwendungsorientierte Literatur begegnet der Problematik mit einer Fulle vonTotal Cost of Ownership (TCO)-Ansatzen. Dabei werden jedoch zumeist wesentliche Faktoren wie Kapitalkosten, Steuereffekte, oder Nutzungsmengen vernachlassigt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein mathematisches Modell konzipiert, welches diese Faktoren integriert und eine exakte Berechnung der Vorteilhaftigkeit ermoglicht. Dabei wird die Entscheidungsfindung mittels einer Software-gestutzten Simulation zielorientiert begleitet. Schlieslich wird das konzipierte Modell anhand eines realen Anwendungsszenarios evaluiert sowie Implikationen fur Wissenschaft und Praxis diskutiert.

Valuing the Advantage of Early Termination: Adopting Real Options Theory for SaaS

Traditional financial methods such as net present value or discounted cash flow are strongly limited when evaluating IT with a high usage flexibility degree. Especially with SaaS, the option to adopt and quit these services short term cannot be valued adequately with traditional methods. Towards this end, theory provides the real option approach that allows for evaluating not only the costs and benefits, but also the flexibility of IS. However, in terms of IS research this theory is often applied in order to evaluate the option to grow or to defer. The advantage of early termination, such as with SaaS, has not yet been adequately studied. Therefore, this paper adopts the real option theory and transfers it to the purposes of early termination. Moreover, the impact of real options on overall service evaluation is impressively demonstrated by a case study. The paper aims to expand IS research on the use of real options in the context of SaaS decision-making.

Bewertung der Vorteilhaftigkeit von Cloud-Services anhand eines Cashflow-Vergleichs

ZusammenfassungAdäquate IT-Systeme werden nicht zuletzt unter Kostengesichtspunkten selektiert. Insbesondere mit Cloud-Computing werden Kostenvorteile assoziiert, die die Entscheidungsträger immer stärker dazu bewegen, diese Technologie in Betracht zu ziehen. Cloud-Anbieter präsentieren in diesem Zusammenhang oftmals undifferenzierte Beispielrechnungen, die von der finanziellen Vorteilhaftigkeit ihrer Lösungen zeugen. Bei der Berücksichtigung von finanziellen Einflussfaktoren mangelt es den Vergleichsrechnungen der Anbieter vor allem an Transparenz und Vollständigkeit. Die anwendungsorientierte Literatur begegnet der Problematik mit einer Fülle von „Total-Cost-of-Ownership“-Ansätzen. Aber auch dabei werden zumeist wesentliche Faktoren wie Kapitalkosten, Steuereffekte, Nutzungsdauern oder Nutzungsmengen vernachlässigt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein mathematisches Modell konstruiert, welches diese Faktoren integriert und eine Berechnung bezüglich der Vorteilhaftigkeit ermöglicht. Somit weicht der nebulöse Schleier um Cloud-Services einem rationalen Kostenvergleich mit traditionellen IT-Systemen. Ferner wird das konzipierte Modell anhand eines realen Anwendungsszenarios simuliert und evaluiert. Die Ergebnisse indizieren die Relevanz der bislang vernachlässigten Faktoren in Theorie und Praxis. Die Leserschaft profitiert vom einem Excel-basiertem Instrument, welches zur Anwendung des Modells bereitgestellt wird.AbstractScientific research increasingly concentrates on the incremental search for additional cost items in order to capture a complete picture of IT related costs. However, significant cash flow effects have been neglected. Apart from the integration of important financial factors, this contribution also offers a methodological procedure suitable for the analysis of the general conditions under which cloud computing is advantageous. Contrary to previous works, a continuous case study has been set forth, demonstrating the functionality of the comparison model. Highly depending on the parameters, the majority of the offered cloud services can hence lead to lower net present values than traditional on-premise services. Therefore, in order to avoid nasty surprises later on, companies should set up valid business cases prior to any investment decision.