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Risks and rewards of cloud computing in the UK public sector: A reflection on three Organisational case studies

Author

Listed:
  • Steve Jones

    (Conwy County Borough Council)

  • Zahir Irani

    (University of Bradford)

  • Uthayasankar Sivarajah

    (Brunel University London)

  • Peter E. D. Love

    (Curtin University of Technology)

Abstract

Government organisations have been shifting to cloud-based services in order to reduce their total investments in IT infrastructures and resources (e.g. data centers), as well as capitalise on cloud computing’s numerous rewards. However, just like any other technology investments there are also concerns over the potential risks of implementing cloud-based technologies. Such concerns and the paucity of scholarly literature focusing on cloud computing from a governmental context confirm the need for exploratory research and to draw lessons for government authorities and others in order to ensure a reduction in costly mistakes. This paper therefore investigates the implementation of cloud computing in both a practical setting and from an organisational user perspective via three UK local government authorities. Through the qualitative case study enquiries, the authors are able to extrapolate perceived rewards and risks factors which are mapped against the literature so that emergent factors can be identified. All three cloud deployments resulted in varying outcomes which included key rewards such as improved information management, flexibility of work practices and also posed risks such as loss of control and lack of data ownership to the organisations. These findings derived from the aggregated organisational user perspectives will be of benefit to both academics and practitioners engaged in cloud computing research and its strategic implementation in the public sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Steve Jones & Zahir Irani & Uthayasankar Sivarajah & Peter E. D. Love, 2019. "Risks and rewards of cloud computing in the UK public sector: A reflection on three Organisational case studies," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 359-382, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:21:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s10796-017-9756-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10796-017-9756-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Brzozowska-Rup, Katarzyna & Nowakowska, Marzena & Zdradzisz, Marcin, 2024. "Cloud computing in the Polish public administration: current state and development prospects," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    3. John Oredo & Denis Dennehy, 2023. "Exploring the Role of Organizational Mindfulness on Cloud Computing and Firm Performance: The Case of Kenyan Organizations," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 2029-2050, October.
    4. Osama Abied & Othman Ibrahim & Siti Nuur-Ila Mat Kamal & Ibrahim M. Alfadli & Weam M. Binjumah & Norafida Ithnin & Maged Nasser, 2022. "Probing Determinants Affecting Intention to Adopt Cloud Technology in E-Government Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-29, November.
    5. Oliveira, Fabio & Kakabadse, Nada & Khan, Nadeem, 2022. "Board engagement with digital technologies: A resource dependence framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 804-818.
    6. Rui Guo & Ali Tafti & Ramanath Subramanyam, 2025. "Internal IT modularity, firm size, and adoption of cloud computing," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 319-348, February.
    7. Ashish Kumar Jha & Indranil Bose, 2021. "Linking Drivers and Outcomes of Innovation in IT Firms: The Role of Partnerships," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 1593-1607, December.
    8. Dakshitha N. Jinasena & Konstantina Spanaki & Thanos Papadopoulos & Maria E. Balta, 2023. "Success and Failure Retrospectives of FinTech Projects: A Case Study Approach," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 259-274, February.

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