Effective Cloud Resource Utilisation in Cloud ERP Decision-Making Process for Industry 4.0 in the United States

Cloud enterprise resource planning (C-ERP) represents an evolution of traditional ERP, which also offers the advantages of cloud computing (CC) such as ease of use and resource elasticity. This article presents the opportunities and challenges of the C-ERP adoption for industry 4.0 in the United States as well as the factors that boost or hinder such a decision. The quantitative research method is used to gather the predictor factors and correlation amongst them. An online survey questionnaire received 109 responses, mainly decision-makers and professionals from the US consumer goods industry. Statistical analysis has been carried out to rank the different levels of influence in the C-ERP adoption decision. The predictor’s complexity and regulatory compliance positively influence C-ERP private service deployment, whereas technology readiness is a good predictor of community service deployment. This paper also proposes a decision support system (DSS), tailored to industry 4.0, and aimed at assisting decision-makers in adopting C-ERP as an effective resource for decision-making. The DSS is built upon the predictors using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and it supports decision-makers in the selection of services and deployment models for C-ERP as a resource.

Effect of User Involvement in Supply Chain Cloud Innovation

Cloud innovation has become increasingly important to supply chain innovation and performance. User involvement is a crucial part of cloud innovation. However, the effect of user involvement in supply chain cloud innovation has not been thoroughly studied, particularly its effect on product cost and optimal price. In this paper, the authors attempted to bridge this major gap in the literature. The authors reviewed the relevant literature to define cloud innovation and user involvement in supply chain cloud innovation. Then the authors developed a game model based on the Bertrand model. Analysis of the model showed that user involvement affects product cost and optimal pricing in an interesting way. The authors also presented a real-life example of how user innovation takes place at Tailg electric vehicle company.

Information Seeking and Online Deal Seeking Behavior

Deal-seeking behavior is booming over the last decade. This article aims to identify online deal-seeking resources, understand the current status of online deal-seeking and identify key insights and trends for understanding online deal seeker's behaviors. The authors first conducted an in-depth review of the relevant literature including white papers, survey reports, online news articles, as well as, numerous postings on multiple deal-seeking websites. Then, a blog mining approach is used to mine relevant blog posts they found from the Internet. The article identifies different types of online deal-seeking resources and summarizes key insights and trends for understanding online deal seeker's behaviors. Online deal seeking behavior is a subject that is not well explored. The article summarizes key insights and trends for understanding online deal seeker's behaviors. Information-seeking theories are used to help explain shopper's online deal-seeking behaviors.

Strategic Values of Cloud Computing Transformation

This article aims to study the strategic transformative value dimensions of cloud computing. Organizational requirements, managerial strategic objectives, and their attendant challenges are very specific indicators that enable characterization of these dimensions. An exploratory study of 173 cases of companies, covering 17 distinct economic activity sectors, spread over all continents, was conducted, taking into account contingency factors such as culture, size, and structure. The elements of industry, strategy, and technology were also considered, as well as managerial cognition. The analyses of needs, objectives, challenges, implemented solutions, and results of the transformation to cloud computing, enabled us to identify these dimensions. Strategies to maximize the transformative value of cloud computing are then presented. The results of this study can be used by managers to facilitate and optimize this cloud computing transformation.

Understanding Intentions to Switch Toward Cloud Computing at Firms' Level

This research aims to study intentions to switch toward cloud computing at firms' level. As a new way to deploy information technologies (IT) within firms, switching toward cloud computing remains a hard decision that depends on several contextual factors. While several studies have focused mainly on technological aspects, this research adopts a multidimensional perspective by combining the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework with a two-factor theory perspective. Doing so, the authors attempt to propose a research model that can be useful to deeply understand how firms perform when thinking about switching toward cloud-based solutions. A multiple-case study within five Tunisian firms has been conducted to contextualize the research model and give it more explanation power. The Tunisian context should be interesting, as cloud computing adoption is a new topic that is not sufficiently studied in developing countries, particularly in those characterized by an economy in transition. Data have been collected by semi-structured interviews and coded using the Nvivo software. The analysis of interviews content shows that the expected switching benefits and risks play a mediating role between TOE factors and intentions to switch toward cloud computing. Indeed, the authors found some different results within cases revealing the dual effects of technology, organization, and environment factors on intentions by generating different expected switching benefits and risks. In light of these results, some recommendations are proposed to decision makers in this area.