Explaining the role of trust in cloud computing services

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain the role of trust in cloud computing services based on empirical evidence from interviewing executives of financial institutions in Ghana. The paper answers the questions: what is the role of trust in cloud computing service acquisition, and what policies promote trusted cloud computing services? Design/methodology/approach – This is an explanatory paper that is based on literature review and empirical data on exploring reasons for cloud computing service acquisitions. A combination of interviews and focus group discussions was used as methods for data collection. Information technology and electronic banking executives of five major commercial banks in Accra, Ghana, between January and July 2013 were interviewed. A total of ten respondents were interviewed, two in each of the selected banks. A purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of informants. This approach allows the selection of qualified informants to ensure extensiveness and diversity of opinion. Findings – Although previous literature proffers various factors as key to cloud computing adoption, uses or provisioning, this study brings trust to the fore as an imperative for cloud computing service acquisition by financial institutions. It also shows that trust increases if users perceive that cloud computing service providers act in honesty and in users’ interest, making trust a fundamental factor that informs financial institutions’ decision to acquire cloud computing services. Research limitations/implications – The research introduces a new dimension about the widely held perceptions of the factors that influence adoption of cloud computing services. Practical implications – Developers of cloud computing solutions that are targeted at corporate users must focus on systems that enhances their trustworthiness, as it is a primary criteria for user buy-in. Similarly, any trust-building effort by cloud computing service providers minimizes users’ concerns and pushes the services providers closer to the trust threshold. Originality/value – The paper outlines the trust factors that are imperative for cloud computing uses by financial institutions. This is one of the pioneering papers that address trust issues in cloud computing from the perspective of financial institutions.

Digital Identity Management on Social Media: Exploring the Factors That Influence Personal Information Disclosure on Social Media

“…The study has revealed that relatedness of users, integrity of users on the platform and competence of users are the key antecedents to privacy concerns on social media. In other words, perception of lack of integrity and low user competence have the tendency to lower the level of the trustworthiness of users [90]. Similarly, previous exposures and relationships can influence their trustworthiness.…”

“…This method is suitable for developing a complete understanding and a comprehensive view of the research domain and the Moreover, Hoffmann et al identified a cognitive coping mechanism that enables users to overcome or ignore privacy concerns and engage in online information self-disclosure [89]. Also the integrity and openness of social media platform can influence users' information disclosure behavior [90]. Trust of social media platforms is therefore predicated on integrity and openness.…”

Understanding Customers Perception of ATM Data Integrity

“…A qualitative study that aggregates these subjective individual perceptions of customers was deemed appropriate in order to acquire deeper understanding of factors that contribute to perception of data integrity (Alshamaila et al, 2013;Adjei, 2015). A longitudinal analysis of customers' perception of data integrity was conducted from January to December 2016.…”

“…A purposive sampling technique was used to select the informants because it offers the researcher to select respondents in a way that ensure extensiveness and diversity of individual customer perceptions. This sampling technique also reveals facts about the context such as social clues, opinions, attitudes, beliefs and feelings (Adjei, 2015;Yin, 2008). Gender, educational qualification or social exposure was not a metric considered in the sampling.…”

“…Theorizing is a systematic endeavor of specifying abstract categories and formulating patterns and chains of cause-and-effect relationships, and it is very critical for drawing systematic inferences based on behaviors and perceptions (Adjei, 2015). Theories abound that underpins the perceptive degree of customer and the decision theory is one of such by behavioral decision theory by March and Simon, 2001 which captures very important decision sub constructs Inputs, Task Characteristics, Cognitive Biases, Data Completeness, Individual Differences, Information Processing, literacy.…”