Analysis of Cloud Computing in the Business Environment

This report delves into the multifaceted aspects of cloud computing within a business context. It begins by defining cloud computing and outlining the project's objectives, which include analyzing its uses, advantages, and disadvantages within an IT company. The project scope encompasses the broader implications of cloud computing on business agility, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. The report provides a comprehensive literature review, summarizing the benefits such as increased flexibility and easier data accessibility, alongside drawbacks like downtime and security concerns. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including interviews with IT managers and surveys of IT workforces, to gather data. The research design includes detailed explanations of the qualitative and quantitative research processes, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and variable specifications. The report also addresses research limitations such as resource constraints and sample size. The report provides a detailed research plan and schedule to ensure the project's successful completion.

Running head: BUSINESS RESEARCH
Submitted by
Cloud Computing
for Business

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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Project scope...............................................................................................................................................3
Literature review.........................................................................................................................................3
Primary question......................................................................................................................................6
Secondary question..................................................................................................................................6
Research Design and Methodology.............................................................................................................6
Qualitative research.................................................................................................................................6
Quantitative research...............................................................................................................................8
Research Limitations.................................................................................................................................11
Time schedule (Research Plan)..................................................................................................................11
References.................................................................................................................................................13
Appendix...................................................................................................................................................15
Exhibit 1....................................................................................................................................................15
Exhibit 2....................................................................................................................................................15

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Introduction
Cloud computing is a new form of aspect that is normally categorized as the feasible delivery of
several hosted services on the internet. These services can entail different databases as well as
servers, analytics, and software. By using the services of cloud computing, several organizations
and users can access the software as well as an application as per their requirement that will be
hosted by an outside party in the cloud atmosphere (Chang, et. al., 2016).
Project objective
Following are objectives of this project:
 To analyze the uses of cloud computing: A case of IT company
 To address the advantages of cloud computing: A case of IT company
 To evaluate the drawbacks of cloud computing: A case of IT company
Project scope
Under the exiting technological trends, it has been demonstrated that the cloud can demonstrate
an agility amount, which is considered in business structure. It helps to make enhancement in the
factor of expenses as well as efficiencies of different service to the managers. The requirement
should be attained cautiously in order to make sure regarding the adoption as well as developing
the practices of cloud computing services. The scope of this project is wider as it discusses the
several benefits as well as disadvantages of executing the cloud computing services within a
model of business (Chang, 2015). Cloud computing can be effective to improve the efficiencies
of business in terms of making sure the adequate business model.
Literature review
Use of Cloud Computing in Business

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It can be summarized that cloud computing could aid to offer a wide category of services in the
business model. It could help to set up the necessities of business. It could also use to offer the
flexibility of connecting the diverse model of the business at any given time. The accessibility of
the data has become much easier with the increasing number of devices that are using cloud
computing services for their businesses (Avram, M.G., 2014).
The Advantages of Cloud Computing for Businesses
It can be also summarized that there are different advantages of exercising the cloud computing
for the business. Cloud computing could aid the larger business giants to emphasize on the
smoother running of an organization. Business could enable to design their platform and install
different innovative services as well as application with the resources that are being offered by
the cloud computing (Hashem, et. al., 2015).
It can be also evaluated that cloud computing would aid to decline the expenses of managing and
maintaining the IT system in case business would move to the cloud services. The business
would not have to buy expensive equipment and system for the storage of information on their
personal system. It could be beneficial to decline the expenses of implementing the resources of
providers of cloud computing services. It is assessed that a cloud computing platform would be
highly supported to be much more resilience in the field of work. The platform would aid the
users to access their prominent information from their homes when they would be on a holiday
or when they would be traveling from one place to other (Gangwar, et. al., 2015).
The Disadvantages of Cloud Computing for Businesses
It could be summarized that downtime is one of the genuine weaknesses of distributed
computing. Cloud services cannot an assurance to deliver quality services to the network. The
cloud system highly relies on the internet. The concern for the privacy of data as well as the

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security of the business field is a critical area of business concern. There were a large number of
hackers, who hacks the data in the past. There is need to secure the data into the business. One
prominent limitation of cloud computing platform in the business field is the embedded reliance
(Lian, et. al., 2014). Moreover, sober contracts amid structure of the merchant could make it
complex to exchange starting with one phase of the cloud then onto the next. It would not only
be costly but also, it would be difficult to reconfigure the practices that would be competent to
attain the needs of new hosts. Within the cloud computing devices, every single element could be
obtainable on the internet. Further, it is also summarized that even the best software development
groups are vulnerable to attacks as well as breaches of the security. Because, the cloud
computing platform has been developed as public services so, it is simple to run in an effective
and efficient manner (Rittinghouse and Ransome, 2016).
Justification of research problem
Under the current scenario, the business faces complexity in terms of securing the information
within devices. Therefore, they should apply the cloud computing system in the business. This
investigation would be advantageous to assess the benefits and limitation of using the cloud
computing services in the business. It is also prominent for business to understand the uses of
cloud computing in the business practices (Chang and Ramachandran, 2016).
Literature gap and opportunity
Under the literature chapter, a researcher will focus on the advantages and limitation of
exercising the cloud computing in the business. This literature review provides the opportunity
for assessing the pros and cons of applying the cloud computing in the business. This research
will also emphasize the strategy for improving the cloud computing practices in the business. An
investigator will take small sample size as the small number of individuals are interested to

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engage in the survey through a questionnaire (Sultan, 2014).
Research questions
Primary question
 What are uses of cloud computing in the business?
Secondary question
 What are the advantages of using cloud computing in the business?
 What are the drawbacks of using cloud computing in the business?
Research Design and Methodology
The research methodology and design are crucial for collecting the feasible instruction with
reference to the assessment of beliefs and opinion as well as interpret the findings of research
issue. There are different methods of using research design within the investigation. These
methods would be appropriate for obtaining the feasible outcome (Chou, 2015). It is evaluated as
follow:
Qualitative research
Chart 1: Qualitative research process

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(Sources: Garrison, et. al., 2015).
Qualitative research procedure entails different phases during the research. Under the primary
stage, a researcher will identify the research and formulate planning. In the second stage, a
researcher will screen the staffing and criterion for recruitment. In the third phase, a researcher
will involve the focus group approach as well as conduct final report for attaining the research in
a specified time period (Botta, et. al., 2016).
Approaches to reliability and Validity
An investigator will apply the inductive approach due to subjective nature of research concern.
This approach will make competent to the investigator to develop the theoretical concepts
regarding research aspects. Thus, this approach would be beneficial to improve the validity as
well as the reliability of research concern (Hsu, et. al., 2014).
Sampling and Sample Size
Sampling is a course of action for choosing the participants from a large number of population
sizes. Non-probability sampling technique would be implemented by a researcher for completing
the research as this research concern is based on the qualitative nature. However, there is a
requirement for an investigator to pool a large number of funds and more efforts for executing
the techniques of non-probability. Under this tool, open-ended questionnaire framework will be
implemented for obtaining the interview (Ali, et. al., 2015). For completing the interview, 5 IT
manager will be chosen as a sample size from a different company who uses cloud computing in
their business.
Data Collection Method
Primary data collection would be executed by an investigator to attain the objective of research
in predetermined time duration. This information would be collected via using the survey

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through questionnaire as well as an interview. Therefore, it could be feasible for collecting the
detail facts and figures from the targeted sample size. This tool is also feasible to collect the first
hand as well as new information regarding research concern (Bahrami and Singhal, 2015).
Variables Specifications
There are different kinds of the variable that could be implemented by an investigator with the
intention of this research named independent and dependent variable. Independent variable is
cloud computing as well as the dependent variable is business performance (Kasemsap, 2015).
Quantitative research
Chart 2: Quantitative research process
(Sources: González-Martínez, et. al., 2015).
The above chart demonstrated that an investigator will assess the research concern as well as
objective in the primary phase. Subsequent, it will build the hypothesis about the investigation
concern and develops the literature review according to the objective of the investigation. In this

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investigation, an investigator will select the sample and execute the research instrument before
conducting the research. Subsequent, legal ethical consideration will be entailed under the
research design. Later, information will be gathered and evaluated by exercising the different
sources. Later, the budget would be projected by a discussion of research (Dempsey and
Kelliher, 2017).
Research Instrument
An investigator will execute the secondary research to complete the investigation. This research
study would consider different sources for gathering the information regarding research concern
like offline and online websites, academic publication, an annual report as well as an academic
journal.
This method is applied by a researcher to support the facts and figures that are pooled by primary
sources. Consequently, this instrument will be advantageous to analyze the consistent outcome
(González-Martínez, et. al., 2015).
Quantitative Data Analysis Process
Chart 3: Quantitative data analysis process
(Sources: Dempsey and Kelliher, 2017).
The above chart depicted that an investigator will prepare the facts and figures in the early stage.
After that, an investigator will increase their intellectual capabilities with reference to recoding,

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mean as well as frequencies of facts and figures. Later, these facts and figures would be analyzed
by executing Ms-excel software in order to represent the information via several charts, tables as
well as graphs. After this process, collected facts and figures would be construed in a
comprehensible way. As a result, it can be stated that quantitative data assessment could be
beneficial to accomplish the objective of research in a predetermined time period (Kasemsap,
2015).
Sampling and Sample Size
With the concern of this research, probability sampling tool will be chosen because it facilitates
equal chances to their targeted participants to share their opinion with regards to the role of cloud
computing in the business. As a result, it could be beneficial to reduce the chances of biases from
survey through a questionnaire (Bahrami and Singhal, 2015). For obtaining the survey
questionnaire, an investigator will implement 50 IT workforces who are engaged in cloud
computing within the business. It would be advantageous for an investigator to pool the reliable
as well as appropriate result with least time due to using close-ended questionnaire structure.
Reliability and Validity of Data
Validity illustrates the degree through which appropriateness and relevancy of investigation
could be assessed by quantitative facts and figures. For illustration, a research will apply the
survey through a questionnaire to assess the advantages as well as cons of implementing the
constancy in investigation end result. The qualitative facts, as well as figures, are analyzed by
literature review to enhance the validity as well as the reliability of research result in a
chronological way (Kasemsap, 2015).
Research Limitations

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There are several research limitations that may affect an investigator during the investigation.
These limitations are insufficient resources, lack of time, and inadequate funds. Another
limitation is lack of sample size to collect the data via survey through a questionnaire. In
addition, an investigator will be accountable for maintaining the privacy of participants. Thus,
these limitations can impact on the end result of the research study (González-Martínez, et. al.,
2015).
Time schedule (Research Plan)
Activity name Start Day Last Day Duration
(Days)
Proposal of
investigation
5/3/2018 5/16/2018 13
Literature
Review
5/17/2018 7/23/2018 66
pooling of facts
and figures
7/24/2018 9/24/2018 60
Assessment of
data
9/25/2018 10/25/2018 30
Final
submission of
the report
10/26/201
8
11/27/2018 31

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Proposal of investigation
Literature Review
pooling of facts and figures
Assessent of data
Final submission of report
5/3/2018
5/17/2018
7/24/2018
9/25/2018
10/26/2018
13
66
60
30
31
Gantt chart
Start Day
Duration (Days)
(See: Exhibit 2)
Conclusion
From the above interpretation, it can be concluded that the efficiency and practices of cloud
computing services in the model of business. It also evaluated this project has a wider scope for
readers and IT companies. There are different advantages of using the cloud computing in the
business. These benefits are Focus on Business Innovation, Reduction of the Costs of IT,
Scalability, Efficiency of Collaboration, and Practices in the Flexibility of Work, Portability of
Applications and Accessibility to Automatic Updates. Another benefit is Focus on Core
Competencies of Business, Focus on Innovation in the Business Processes, Agility in the
Business, Improvement of Security, and Preparing for Growth of the Business. It can be also
concluded that there are different drawbacks of using the cloud computing in the business. These
drawbacks are Downtime, Security and Privacy of Cloud Computing Services for Business,
Vulnerability to Attacks, Limited Control over Services and Flexibility, Dependencies of Cloud
Computing Platform, and The Increasing Costs of Cloud Computing Services.