Abstract
Cloud computing is one of the most high-profile trends in Information Systems today. Although capable of delivering significant benefits to organisations such as scalable computing and storage, data sharing, on-demand anytime and anywhere access, there are also risks and barriers to cloud adoption. The purpose of this exploratory, qualitative research is to identify and evaluate the factors, within the TOE (Technology-Organisation-Environment) framework of technology adoption, that affect the adoption of cloud computing in Irish hospitals. Information was gathered through semi-structured interviews of senior managers and executives with experience and expertise in information systems management and strategy and cloud computing technology in Irish hospitals. The factors that were identified as impacting adoption were: cost, data security, perceived usefulness, available resources, organisation size, regulatory & legal context and vendor support. The exploratory nature of this research helped reveal the complexities of these factors
This research provides valuable insights to the range of stakeholders involved in and responsible for the implementation of healthcare information technology. For service vendors, this research provides a greater understanding of the requirements and concerns of hospital administrators. For the decision makers in hospitals it provides a framework of factors that should be considered during the adoption decision. For the academic community, this research contributes to a growing international discourse on the adoption of cloud computing in the hospital context and, as a useful reference, can support future study in this area. Author keywords: Cloud computing, healthcare, hospitals, cloud, TOE, DOI, adoption, diffusion, Irish Hospitals, information technology
