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Eignet sich Cloud-Computing als Instrument zur Förderung ökologischer Ziele?

Analyse notwendiger Voraussetzungen auf Verbraucherseite

Cloud Computing As a Tool for Enhancing Ecological Goals?

Analyzing Necessary Preconditions on the Consumer Side

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WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK

Zusammenfassung

Cloud-Computing hat Eingang in die öffentliche Diskussion gefunden, weil es ökonomische und ökologische Vorteile in sich vereinen und zu Effizienzsteigerungen und Energieeinsparungen führen soll. Letzteres ist bei steigenden Energiekosten für die Informationstechnologie (IT) von besonderer Bedeutung. Die vorgestellte Studie untersucht, ob die hierfür notwendigen Voraussetzungen auf Nutzerseite, wie das Wissen über Cloud-Computing und dessen Einstufung als unter dem Strich positiv, vorliegen. Die Analyse basiert auf einem aus der Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) und dem Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) kombinierten Untersuchungsrahmen für den Bereich von Cloud-Computing. Die Methodik umfasst zwei Verbraucherbefragungen, die eine zur Erhebung von Überzeugungen, die zweite zur Skalierung der Variablen. Zur Überprüfung der Hypothesen wird eine Strukturgleichungsmodellierung (SEM) durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse unterstützen den vorgeschlagenen Untersuchungsrahmen. Überraschenderweise spielt jedoch der Umweltfaktor keine Rolle für die intendierte Nutzung von Cloud-Diensten, und zwar unabhängig von deren Kenntnis oder Nutzung. Die Ergebnisse der Studie betonen die Bedeutsamkeit von mehr Kommunikationsmaßnahmen bei aktuellen und potenziellen Nutzern, insbesondere im Hinblick auf mögliche positive Umwelteffekte als Folge des Einsatzes der neuen IT-Infrastruktur.

Abstract

Cloud computing has been introduced as a promising information technology (IT) that embodies not only economic advantages in terms of increased efficiency but also ecological gains through saving energy. The latter has become particularly important in view of the rising energy costs of IT. The present study analyzes whether necessary preconditions for accepting cloud computing as a new infrastructure, such as awareness and perceived net value, exist on the part of the users. The analysis is based on a combined research framework of the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) in a cloud computing setting. Two consumer surveys, the one to elicit beliefs and the second to gain insight into the ranking of the variables, are employed. This study uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate the hypotheses. The results indicate support for the proposed research framework. Surprisingly however, the ecological factor does not play a role in forming cloud computing intentions, regardless of prior knowledge or experience. Empirical evidence of this study suggests increasing efforts for informing actual and potential users, particularly in respect to possible ecological advantages through applying the new IT infrastructure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Health Care und Public Management, Universität Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 48, 70593, Stuttgart, Deutschland

    Ingrid Gottschalk

  2. Institut für Health Care und Public Management, Universität Hohenheim, Schwerzstrasse 35, 70593, Stuttgart, Deutschland

    Stefan Kirn

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  1. Ingrid Gottschalk
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  2. Stefan Kirn
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Correspondence to Ingrid Gottschalk.

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Angenommen nach zwei Überarbeitungen durch Prof. Dr. Loos.

This article is also available in English via http://www.springerlink.com and http://www.bise-journal.org: Gottschalk I, Kirn S (2013) Cloud Computing As a Tool for Enhancing Ecological Goals? Analyzing Necessary Preconditions on the Consumer Side. Bus Inf Syst Eng. doi: 10.1007/s12599-013-0284-2.

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Gottschalk, I., Kirn, S. Eignet sich Cloud-Computing als Instrument zur Förderung ökologischer Ziele?. Wirtschaftsinf 55, 299–314 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11576-013-0378-y

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