SelfWriter 8 | - Freelance Writer
Jan 28, 2019 | #1
Introduction and Topic
Cloud computing makes use of transmission capacities of high speed Internet servers or server clusters to process data from personal computers through Internet communication (Sultan). Server clusters are composed of a processing center that can handle large amounts of data. The server cluster also includes storage servers, calculation servers, and a resource data center that makes use of broadband. The exact configuration is usually determined according to the needs of the customer. The computing resources are distributed so that the supercomputer can meet the needs of the client.
The cloud computing is done through a virtualization of the data service center. This is combined with network resources, memory, storage, and a supporting architecture in order to accomplish the calculations necessary. These resources are allocated in a dynamic fashion in order to meet the immediate needs of the customer. This allows for increased resources during times of high computing needs and less resources when fewer computations are necessary. Instead of focusing on their physical hardware, a business using cloud computing can concentrate on the virtual resource layers necessary for their computing needs (Lytras et al.).
Recently, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have begun making progress toward mastering massive amounts of information (Alshamaila, Papagiannidis, and Li). Many businesses now have enterprise information systems. These systems are designed to meet the production and operation needs as well as the communications of a business. The majority of the enterprise access to the backbone of the network, which is now on line, is through broadband Internet connections. However, many SMEs still have considerable information management needs (Low, Chen, and Wu).
Many SMEs lack an overall plan for their enterprise information systems (Khosrow-Pour). This is frequently due to a lack of dedicated information professionals in these smaller businesses. Without a dedicated IT professional, many SMEs do not have a well-organized strategy for enterprise development. This means any additional software or hardware is purchased to meet immediate needs and may not benefit the overall system. A system that is well designed and thoroughly planned will begin with a single application. The various departments in the business are free to request specialty add-ons to the general system. The IT professional will ensure that these specialty software packages are completely compatible with the overall system and infrastructure. This ensures that the various subsystems are interoperable and can freely exchange information (Haider).
Another problem for SMEs handling vast amounts of information present in the modern business environment is the constraints of the telecom infrastructure (Kale). The infrastructure of the telecom system in which a business is operating often sets an absolute limit on the speed of calculations. However, there are methods for overcoming these limitations that are usually familiar to an IT professional. For example, instead of relying on a real-time data, the business may choose to do calculations on a previous day's information that has already been saved. Since the information is already in the system, the local telecom speed is usually not a limitation (Todorova and Smallbone).
Most SMEs have limits on the amount of resources they can invest in their enterprise information systems. The hardware necessary for most modern information management systems is costly. This means that the business must allocate a significant amount of capital for their information management needs. Additional costs come from software maintenance and development. There can be costly updates to both the hardware and software as well. Many SMEs that have reduced profitability for a financial quarter may choose to delay the updating of their information systems. This can result in information systems that are vulnerable to cyber-attacks (Kale).
As the global economy becomes more integrated, competition for business increases. This means it is increasingly important for an SME to have a well operating knowledge management system. The cost of hardware for this type of system to be done completely in-house is usually cost and space prohibitive. However, the cloud-based system can offer a viable alternative. Most of the cloud-based systems are less expensive than purchasing the hardware and software to do the calculations and data management in-house (Uden).
The cloud-based solutions for an SME are usually less costly than an in-house alternative (Todorova and Smallbone). This is because most organizations only need high levels of data management calculations to be done over a short period. When the calculations are being handled by an off-site supercomputer, the system will usually be able to compute all of the calculations necessary for the entire business in a few seconds or microseconds. This means that the business is only paying for the use of the computer system for a few seconds. Even for the most intensive calculations, this is less expensive than purchasing the necessary hardware and software. The cloud-based system also has the advantage of having rapid expandability (Khosrow-Pour).
The aim of this research is to establish the present state of technology with regard to enterprise knowledge management through cloud computing among SMEs. While many SMEs have adopted the use of knowledge management systems, the majority have not yet transitioned to using cloud-based systems (Uden). Even the SMEs that have taken advantage of advanced knowledge management systems that are cloud-based still have a number of shortfalls with regard to their information management needs.
There are problems with the enterprise information systems in many SMEs. One of these problems is a lack of planning for the system construction. This is frequently due to the lack of a dedicated IT professional. Another problem is the limitations created by telecom infrastructure. An organization may be limited by the speed that their system can transfer information due to insufficient telecom infrastructure. Another problem faced by many SMEs is a lack of capital necessary for investing in an adequate information management system.
This research is focused on determining the current state of technology for knowledge management with cloud computing among SMEs. This will be accomplished by answering the following three research questions:
1. To what extent do SMEs using cloud computing plan their information management systems?
2. What are the limitations placed on SMEs using cloud computing by telecom infrastructure constraints?
3. How much effect do limited funds have on SMEs use of cloud computing for their information management systems?
Prior to gathering the primary data for this study, a thorough review of the literature will be done to determine the present state of knowledge. This study is meant to provide information regarding the present state regarding knowledge management by SMEs using cloud-based computing. The proposed research will serve to fill a gap in the literature regarding this topic. Specifically, there will be a search for gaps in the literature with regard to the extent that SMEs use cloud computing for information management, limitations provided by telecom infrastructure constraints, and the effect of limited funds on SMEs using cloud-based systems.
The proposed study will use survey research to gather primary data. Surveys are considered one of the best methods for gaining information regarding a phenomenon in its natural context. The survey allows gathering data without altering the circumstances in which an incident or other item of interest occurs. The particular methods used for collecting data with a survey depend on the purpose of the study and the situation. The data is collected from a specific sample of people using a systematic method. Traditionally, the surveys have been done using interviews and recording the responses on paper. The interviews were conducted in person or by telephone. Surveys were also sent by standard mail. The majority of surveys are now done over the Internet. This approach will be used for the proposed study.
Surveys can be broken down into interviews and questionnaires. This study will use a questionnaire. The questionnaire will be completed by the respondent and have consistent questions. The questions can be open or closed ended. The specific type of questionnaire survey used here will be one sent by email using closed ended questions. This type of questionnaire has a number of advantages. A questionnaire being sent by email allows for privacy when answering questions, long response categories, and visual presentations. A disadvantage of the email questionnaire is that a specific reading and writing level is needed, the method lacks flexibility, there is no ability for the researcher to explain questions in person, and high response rates are not likely. Other advantages of the email questionnaire include low-cost, access to geographically dispersed samples, low facility needs, and sufficient time for respondents to formulate their answers. Quick turnaround time can also be an advantage of the questionnaire delivered by email.
Survey Monkey will be used to develop the survey. The Survey Monkey company is cloud-based and specializes in helping people who are doing questionnaire research. The survey will be developed using the customizable survey development software provided by the company. Survey Monkey will also provide an appropriate group of subjects and collect the data. Once the data is collected by Survey Monkey, it will be sent to the researcher in digital format. This data can then be subjected to statistical analysis.
This entire project is expected to take four months. Gathering the information for the literature review and determining the gaps in the literature will take the first month. The second month will consist of developing the questionnaire and sending it to participants. The third month will involve collecting the data and doing the statistical analysis. The fourth month will involve the write up.
This project will have three deliverables. The first deliverable is the systematic review of the literature. The literature review will be systematic and focus on the research questions. It will be targeted toward identifying, appraising, and then selecting the highest quality research available to answer the research questions. Every attempt will be made to include the best research available. The research will be sought out using a variety of search and meta-search engines. The search engines used will be Google, Google scholar, Yahoo, and Bing. The meta-search engines used will be Dogpile and Ixquick.
Another deliverable will be the questionnaire. The questionnaire will be developed using the Survey Monkey system. This system allows for more than 15 question types. Some of the question types include demographic questions, box questions, rating scales, and multiple-choice questions. The exact nature of the questionnaire will not be determined until the literature review is completed. The literature review will reveal the gaps in the literature being targeted. However, the questionnaires will almost certainly include demographic questions, multiple-choice questions, and rating scales. The questions will be formatted so that they are closed ended. This means that the subject will be indicating a number on the rating scale or one of several choices to a question. This will allow for ease of converting the answers to numeric data.
The third deliverable will be the outcome of the statistical analysis on the questionnaire data. The answers to the questions are likely to be represented by descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations. The statistical analysis will provide information explored in the discussion section of the write up. The meaning of these statistical findings will be discussed in relation to the information provided in the review of the literature. This will be done to answer the research questions and fill the gaps in the literature.
The proposed chapter headings for the project are as follows:
1. Front Materials.
2. Introduction and Background.
3. Review of the Relevant Literature.
4. Analysis and Results.
5. Conclusions and Recommendations.
6. References and Bibliography.
7. Appendices.
References
Alshamaila, Y., Papagiannidis, S. and Li, F. (2013). Cloud computing adoption by SMEs in the north east of England. Journal of Ent Info Management, 26(3), pp.250-275.
Haider, A. (2015). Business Technologies in Contemporary Organizations. Hershey: IGI Global.
Kale, V. (2014). Guide to cloud computing for business and technology managers. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.
Khosrow-Pour, M. (2013). Managing information resources and technology. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Low, C., Chen, Y. and Wu, M. (2011). Understanding the determinants of cloud computing adoption. Industr Mngmnt & Data Systems, 111(7), pp.1006-1023.
Luftman, J., Zadeh, H., Derksen, B., Santana, M., Rigoni, E. and Huang, Z. (2013). Key information technology and management issues 2012-2013: an international study. J Inf Technol, 28(4), pp.354-366.
Lytras, M., Ruan, D., Tennyson, R., OrdoÌñez de Pablos, P., GarciÌa Peñalvo, F. and Rusu, L. (2013). Information systems, e-learning, and knowledge management research. New York City: Springer.
Sultan, N. (2013). Knowledge management in the age of cloud computing and Web 2.0: Experiencing the power of disruptive innovations. International Journal of Information Management, 33(1), pp.160-165.
Todorov, K. and Smallbone, D. (2014). Handbook of research on strategic management in small and medium enterprises. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Uden, L. (2013). 7th International Conference on Knowledge Management in Organizations. Berlin: Springer.
Cloud computing makes use of transmission capacities of high speed Internet servers or server clusters to process data from personal computers through Internet communication (Sultan). Server clusters are composed of a processing center that can handle large amounts of data. The server cluster also includes storage servers, calculation servers, and a resource data center that makes use of broadband. The exact configuration is usually determined according to the needs of the customer. The computing resources are distributed so that the supercomputer can meet the needs of the client.
The cloud computing is done through a virtualization of the data service center. This is combined with network resources, memory, storage, and a supporting architecture in order to accomplish the calculations necessary. These resources are allocated in a dynamic fashion in order to meet the immediate needs of the customer. This allows for increased resources during times of high computing needs and less resources when fewer computations are necessary. Instead of focusing on their physical hardware, a business using cloud computing can concentrate on the virtual resource layers necessary for their computing needs (Lytras et al.).Recently, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have begun making progress toward mastering massive amounts of information (Alshamaila, Papagiannidis, and Li). Many businesses now have enterprise information systems. These systems are designed to meet the production and operation needs as well as the communications of a business. The majority of the enterprise access to the backbone of the network, which is now on line, is through broadband Internet connections. However, many SMEs still have considerable information management needs (Low, Chen, and Wu).
Many SMEs lack an overall plan for their enterprise information systems (Khosrow-Pour). This is frequently due to a lack of dedicated information professionals in these smaller businesses. Without a dedicated IT professional, many SMEs do not have a well-organized strategy for enterprise development. This means any additional software or hardware is purchased to meet immediate needs and may not benefit the overall system. A system that is well designed and thoroughly planned will begin with a single application. The various departments in the business are free to request specialty add-ons to the general system. The IT professional will ensure that these specialty software packages are completely compatible with the overall system and infrastructure. This ensures that the various subsystems are interoperable and can freely exchange information (Haider).
Another problem for SMEs handling vast amounts of information present in the modern business environment is the constraints of the telecom infrastructure (Kale). The infrastructure of the telecom system in which a business is operating often sets an absolute limit on the speed of calculations. However, there are methods for overcoming these limitations that are usually familiar to an IT professional. For example, instead of relying on a real-time data, the business may choose to do calculations on a previous day's information that has already been saved. Since the information is already in the system, the local telecom speed is usually not a limitation (Todorova and Smallbone).
Most SMEs have limits on the amount of resources they can invest in their enterprise information systems. The hardware necessary for most modern information management systems is costly. This means that the business must allocate a significant amount of capital for their information management needs. Additional costs come from software maintenance and development. There can be costly updates to both the hardware and software as well. Many SMEs that have reduced profitability for a financial quarter may choose to delay the updating of their information systems. This can result in information systems that are vulnerable to cyber-attacks (Kale).
As the global economy becomes more integrated, competition for business increases. This means it is increasingly important for an SME to have a well operating knowledge management system. The cost of hardware for this type of system to be done completely in-house is usually cost and space prohibitive. However, the cloud-based system can offer a viable alternative. Most of the cloud-based systems are less expensive than purchasing the hardware and software to do the calculations and data management in-house (Uden).
The cloud-based solutions for an SME are usually less costly than an in-house alternative (Todorova and Smallbone). This is because most organizations only need high levels of data management calculations to be done over a short period. When the calculations are being handled by an off-site supercomputer, the system will usually be able to compute all of the calculations necessary for the entire business in a few seconds or microseconds. This means that the business is only paying for the use of the computer system for a few seconds. Even for the most intensive calculations, this is less expensive than purchasing the necessary hardware and software. The cloud-based system also has the advantage of having rapid expandability (Khosrow-Pour).
Aims and Objectives
The aim of this research is to establish the present state of technology with regard to enterprise knowledge management through cloud computing among SMEs. While many SMEs have adopted the use of knowledge management systems, the majority have not yet transitioned to using cloud-based systems (Uden). Even the SMEs that have taken advantage of advanced knowledge management systems that are cloud-based still have a number of shortfalls with regard to their information management needs.
There are problems with the enterprise information systems in many SMEs. One of these problems is a lack of planning for the system construction. This is frequently due to the lack of a dedicated IT professional. Another problem is the limitations created by telecom infrastructure. An organization may be limited by the speed that their system can transfer information due to insufficient telecom infrastructure. Another problem faced by many SMEs is a lack of capital necessary for investing in an adequate information management system.
The Research Questions
This research is focused on determining the current state of technology for knowledge management with cloud computing among SMEs. This will be accomplished by answering the following three research questions:
1. To what extent do SMEs using cloud computing plan their information management systems?
2. What are the limitations placed on SMEs using cloud computing by telecom infrastructure constraints?
3. How much effect do limited funds have on SMEs use of cloud computing for their information management systems?
Methodology
Prior to gathering the primary data for this study, a thorough review of the literature will be done to determine the present state of knowledge. This study is meant to provide information regarding the present state regarding knowledge management by SMEs using cloud-based computing. The proposed research will serve to fill a gap in the literature regarding this topic. Specifically, there will be a search for gaps in the literature with regard to the extent that SMEs use cloud computing for information management, limitations provided by telecom infrastructure constraints, and the effect of limited funds on SMEs using cloud-based systems.
The proposed study will use survey research to gather primary data. Surveys are considered one of the best methods for gaining information regarding a phenomenon in its natural context. The survey allows gathering data without altering the circumstances in which an incident or other item of interest occurs. The particular methods used for collecting data with a survey depend on the purpose of the study and the situation. The data is collected from a specific sample of people using a systematic method. Traditionally, the surveys have been done using interviews and recording the responses on paper. The interviews were conducted in person or by telephone. Surveys were also sent by standard mail. The majority of surveys are now done over the Internet. This approach will be used for the proposed study.
Surveys can be broken down into interviews and questionnaires. This study will use a questionnaire. The questionnaire will be completed by the respondent and have consistent questions. The questions can be open or closed ended. The specific type of questionnaire survey used here will be one sent by email using closed ended questions. This type of questionnaire has a number of advantages. A questionnaire being sent by email allows for privacy when answering questions, long response categories, and visual presentations. A disadvantage of the email questionnaire is that a specific reading and writing level is needed, the method lacks flexibility, there is no ability for the researcher to explain questions in person, and high response rates are not likely. Other advantages of the email questionnaire include low-cost, access to geographically dispersed samples, low facility needs, and sufficient time for respondents to formulate their answers. Quick turnaround time can also be an advantage of the questionnaire delivered by email.
Survey Monkey will be used to develop the survey. The Survey Monkey company is cloud-based and specializes in helping people who are doing questionnaire research. The survey will be developed using the customizable survey development software provided by the company. Survey Monkey will also provide an appropriate group of subjects and collect the data. Once the data is collected by Survey Monkey, it will be sent to the researcher in digital format. This data can then be subjected to statistical analysis.
Time Plan
This entire project is expected to take four months. Gathering the information for the literature review and determining the gaps in the literature will take the first month. The second month will consist of developing the questionnaire and sending it to participants. The third month will involve collecting the data and doing the statistical analysis. The fourth month will involve the write up.
The Deliverables
This project will have three deliverables. The first deliverable is the systematic review of the literature. The literature review will be systematic and focus on the research questions. It will be targeted toward identifying, appraising, and then selecting the highest quality research available to answer the research questions. Every attempt will be made to include the best research available. The research will be sought out using a variety of search and meta-search engines. The search engines used will be Google, Google scholar, Yahoo, and Bing. The meta-search engines used will be Dogpile and Ixquick.
Another deliverable will be the questionnaire. The questionnaire will be developed using the Survey Monkey system. This system allows for more than 15 question types. Some of the question types include demographic questions, box questions, rating scales, and multiple-choice questions. The exact nature of the questionnaire will not be determined until the literature review is completed. The literature review will reveal the gaps in the literature being targeted. However, the questionnaires will almost certainly include demographic questions, multiple-choice questions, and rating scales. The questions will be formatted so that they are closed ended. This means that the subject will be indicating a number on the rating scale or one of several choices to a question. This will allow for ease of converting the answers to numeric data.
The third deliverable will be the outcome of the statistical analysis on the questionnaire data. The answers to the questions are likely to be represented by descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations. The statistical analysis will provide information explored in the discussion section of the write up. The meaning of these statistical findings will be discussed in relation to the information provided in the review of the literature. This will be done to answer the research questions and fill the gaps in the literature.
Proposed Chapter Headings
The proposed chapter headings for the project are as follows:
1. Front Materials.
2. Introduction and Background.
3. Review of the Relevant Literature.
4. Analysis and Results.
5. Conclusions and Recommendations.
6. References and Bibliography.
7. Appendices.
References
Alshamaila, Y., Papagiannidis, S. and Li, F. (2013). Cloud computing adoption by SMEs in the north east of England. Journal of Ent Info Management, 26(3), pp.250-275.
Haider, A. (2015). Business Technologies in Contemporary Organizations. Hershey: IGI Global.
Kale, V. (2014). Guide to cloud computing for business and technology managers. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.
Khosrow-Pour, M. (2013). Managing information resources and technology. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Low, C., Chen, Y. and Wu, M. (2011). Understanding the determinants of cloud computing adoption. Industr Mngmnt & Data Systems, 111(7), pp.1006-1023.
Luftman, J., Zadeh, H., Derksen, B., Santana, M., Rigoni, E. and Huang, Z. (2013). Key information technology and management issues 2012-2013: an international study. J Inf Technol, 28(4), pp.354-366.
Lytras, M., Ruan, D., Tennyson, R., OrdoÌñez de Pablos, P., GarciÌa Peñalvo, F. and Rusu, L. (2013). Information systems, e-learning, and knowledge management research. New York City: Springer.
Sultan, N. (2013). Knowledge management in the age of cloud computing and Web 2.0: Experiencing the power of disruptive innovations. International Journal of Information Management, 33(1), pp.160-165.
Todorov, K. and Smallbone, D. (2014). Handbook of research on strategic management in small and medium enterprises. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Uden, L. (2013). 7th International Conference on Knowledge Management in Organizations. Berlin: Springer.