Analyzing Cloud Computing Benefits in Business Operations: Home Care

This dissertation examines the advantages of cloud computing and its integration into business operations, specifically within the home care sector. The study investigates how cloud computing enhances care services and data management within healthcare organizations. Data was gathered from primary sources through questionnaires and interviews with 20 care home managers, and secondary data from academic literature. The research employs a qualitative method with thematic analysis to identify cloud computing's impact. Findings indicate that cloud computing significantly improves efficiency, expands service areas, and streamlines data management in care homes. The report includes a detailed introduction, literature review, methodology, data analysis, and reflective evaluation, concluding with recommendations for effective cloud computing implementation in care organizations. The research underscores the importance of cloud computing in improving the quality of care and optimizing business operations.

How Cloud Computing
Benefits Business?

ABSTRACT
Present dissertation will describe about the concept of cloud computing and its
integration in business operations. Also, it will show the benefits of using cloud computing in
care homes, the way it help in providing high quality care services to people as well as how data
and information is stored and maintained by health care organisations. For the present study, data
has been collected from primary and secondary sources both. For the primary information, tools
like questionnaire and interviews have been chosen while, for secondary data, books, journals
and online articles based on topic have been referred. Further, qualitative method of data analysis
has been used under which thematic analysis is done to gain accuracy in the results. For the
same, sample size of 20 managers from care home industry has been selected with the use of
stratified random sampling technique. It has been found that maximum respondents believe that
efficiency of care home has enhanced due to implementation of cloud computing. Furthermore, it
has increased the range of area of providing services in the UK.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
1.1 Title.......................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Introduction...........................................................................................................................1
1.3 Background of research.........................................................................................................2
1.4 Rationale of Study.................................................................................................................2
1.5 Problem Statement................................................................................................................3
1.6 Aim and Objectives...............................................................................................................3
1.7 Research Questions...............................................................................................................3
1.8 Structure of dissertation........................................................................................................4
1.9 Framework of study..............................................................................................................4
1.10 Significance of research......................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................6
2.1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................6
2.2 Cloud computing...................................................................................................................6
2.3 Types of cloud computing models........................................................................................7
2.4 Importance of cloud computing in business..........................................................................8
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................................15
Introduction...............................................................................................................................15
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS................................................................................................19
4.1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................19
4.2 Primary data analysis..........................................................................................................19
CHAPTER 4: REFLECTIVE EVALUATION.............................................................................44
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................49
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................51

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Title
“To evaluate how cloud computing systems and applications have benefited business
operations - A case study in home care sector
1.2 Introduction
In today’s technological world, businesses are using different types of software and
applications in their operations. This has changed the way of doing business and performing
operations. Also, it has provided a platform for companies to grow and expand in different
markets. Besides this, it has enabled in enhancing their productivity as well as performance (Ali,
Khan and Vasilakos, 2015). The technological advancements have made it possible to integrate
operations of different departments. Now a days, the most common technology that is been used
by business is cloud computing. It is a paradigm that enables business to share their resources
over internet. This means a process through which services are delivered on demand by using the
internet. Cloud computing consists of database, networking, software, etc. that helps in
increasing the efficiency of business. Cloud migration is a network of servers that stores,
manages and processes data and thus provides services.
The world of health care is very much inefficient and incurring a lot of cost making it
difficult to acclimate it. With new technologies emerging such as big data, artificial intelligence,
etc., it has transformed the health care industry. With this, their efficiency has increased enabling
them to improve the service quality. The cloud computing has made a real difference in
innovation. It has helped in maintaining electronic records and saving data on cloud. Another
advantage of cloud computing to health care is that it has provided speed to things in streamlined
process by accessing the high powered analytics and providing more personalised care to people.
It is highly used in health care sector so that care services are delivered on time to the people.
This has also enhanced the efficiency of care home organisations. By analysing the records of
people, problems are identified and services are delivered (Rittinghouse and Ransome, 2016).
This system effectively helps in sharing of information on internet. The information once
inserted is automatically updated. Along with this, applications and software's are included in
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cloud computing that enables in quick sharing of information. Cloud computing has not only
helped in maintaining and storing of data but also in reducing the expenses of companies. It
means that business only have to pay for the services that they are using. The applications of
cloud computing only needs to be installed and log in to use. Furthermore, they can also be
customised with new technology.
In early times companies and individuals were using computers. So when they ran out of
storage then it would be difficult to maintain data of customers. They would have to buy hard
disk and take back up of data in order to free up the space. It is expected that cloud computing
market in the UK in home care industry will rise up to 21% till 2022 this is because many large
companies will use this service (Botta and et.al., 2016). Also, they will rely on this due to its
security and efficiency. In addition to this only the main thing that is required is infrastructure.
Apart from this, the integration of artificial intelligence with cloud computing is taking home
care to the next level. It is making significant progress in health care industry in UK. It is said by
Rittinghouse and Ransome, (2016) that as long as the security and integrity of data is maintained,
it will help in further development of business in care home.
1.3 Background of research
Cloud computing plays a crucial role in increasing the efficiency of business and
providing services in many sectors such as retail, hospitality, etc. It has benefited companies in
these sectors to a great extent. Due to this they are able to provide effective services to
customers. Apart from this the applications and software in cloud computing has made it easy for
people to use them. Also, it has benefited in storing and sharing of data quickly between business
and people.
1.4 Rationale of Study
There are many reasons due to which the present research is been conducted. The first is
cloud computing is being used in many industries that has benefited business. It has transformed
the way of providing products and services to customers. Another reason is home care sector is
being adversely affected. People are not getting high quality services in proper time and it has
also increased the cost due to manual work (Avram, 2014). The third reason is to find out how
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implementing cloud computing in home care will benefit business. Therefore, it is necessary to
evaluate the impact of using cloud computing in home care.
1.5 Problem Statement
It is essential for organisations engaged in home care to provide timely and high quality
services to people. This will help in reducing time and cost. But due to a lot of manual work and
ineffective sharing of data companies are not able to provide timely care services. This has
reduced the quality of life of people (Almorsy, Grundy and Müller, 2016). Therefore,
implementing cloud computing in home care will help in integrating overall efforts so that
services can be provided on demand. Cloud will create a network of servers in a particular
location. This will also help organisations in many other ways. So in order to identify how cloud
computing will benefit home care, research is being conducted.
1.6 Aim and Objectives
Aim - “To analyse how cloud computing systems and applications have benefited business
operations. A case study in home care sector
Objectives:
The objectives of present study which will be accomplished in dissertation are listed
below:
 To understand the concept of cloud computing
 To analyse the importance of cloud computing in business
 To identify the relationship between cloud computing and business operations in home
care
 To recommend ways on how cloud computing systems and applications should be
maintained in care organisations.
1.7 Research Questions
Apart from aims and objectives, there are certain questions that has to be determined. It
will help in giving answer to the questions. These questions determined are as follows:-
 What are cloud computing systems and applications?
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 What is the importance of cloud computing in business?
 How it will benefit business operations?
 What strategies should be developed to implement cloud computing effectively?
1.8 Structure of dissertation
In this part the entire structure of dissertation is shown. This means how research will be
conducted by researcher. Developing a structure becomes easy for user to understand
dissertation. Also, it helps in moving forward in step by step manner so that research is
conducted effectively. The structure of present dissertation are as follows: -
Chapter 1 Introduction: In this chapter the brief introduction about topic or subject is specified.
It shows what overall research is all about. Besides this, it shows aims, objectives, background,
and significance of research. With this it is easy to gain knowledge of subject.
Chapter 2 Literature Review: In this the researcher thoroughly analyses data of previous
research so that results are described. It gives users information about, what previous research
describe about the topic (Sanaei and et.al., 2014). What are their views and observations?
Moreover, theories and models applied by authors are also described. Furthermore, relevant
sources are included in this chapter.
Chapter 3 Research Methodology: This chapter is the most significant because it shows
methods that is applied by researcher. This gives an insight to the user on how research was
conducted. The methods are selected on basis of nature, aims and objectives of research.
Chapter 4 Data Analysis and Findings: It is also an important chapter because in this data and
results of research is presented by researcher. It gives a clear view whether aims and objectives
are achieved or not. The data is presented in form of graphs, tables, charts, etc.
Chapter 5 Conclusion and Recommendations: It is the last chapter where conclusion is done. It
describes what has been concluded by conducting the research. In addition to this,
recommendations are also given by researcher that can be followed or implemented.
1.9 Framework of study
This section describes the brief introduction of research methodology. This is beneficial
for conducting research in a systematic manner. The framework of present study are as follows:
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Research Philosophy: This states that how the collection, analysis and interpretation of data will
be done in research. Generally, there are various types of philosophies. In context to the present
research, researcher will use interpretivisim philosophy.
Research Design: This states that how researcher will analyse the data so that effective results
can be obtained. In this only guidelines are included that is followed by researcher. For present
study researcher will use the descriptive design.
Research Strategy: As name suggest it is the overall plan of research. It shows how entire
research has been conducted. Basically, there are two common methods that are qualitative and
quantitative. The researcher will use both methods in present study.
Data Collection: It states that how data will be collected. There are two common data collection
methods that is primary and secondary (Oliveira, Thomas and Espadanal, 2014). For present
study researcher will use both methods to collect data. Questionnaire will be used to collect
primary data, journals and articles will be analysed to collect secondary one.
Sampling: It shows that how data sampling from population was done by researcher. There are
many methods that can be used in this. In this dissertation researcher will collect sample of 20
managers of home care company.
Data Analysis: It refers to the technique or tool through which data is analysed to get specific
outcomes. In this research, thematic analysis will be used by researcher.
1.10 Significance of research
In this section the significance of research is described. It is conducted to identify how
home care companies has been benefited by using cloud computing systems. Also, it will show
how quality of service as well as communication has increased among patients and care workers
in home care. It is essential to provide high quality services to people so that quality of life
increases in society. So it is important that home care should work properly and effectively. So
by implementing cloud computing systems, efficiency of organisation has increased.
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
This is the second chapter in which secondary data related to research is described. This
will help the user in analysing theoretical framework to study. It is an essential chapter that helps
in identifying the views of different scholars and authors. For this researcher will analyse
secondary data by analysing research papers, journals, articles, etc. written by other researchers.
In context to this, the literature review of dissertation is as follows:
2.2 Cloud computing
In recent times there has been a significant change that has occurred in technology. It has
changed the life of people as well as way of doing business. Technology has made it performing
operations. It has enabled business to enhance their efficiency so that it can grow in different
markets (Botta and et.al., 2016). The invention of artificial intelligence, internet of things, cloud
computing, etc. has entirely transformed companies. In general terms cloud computing means
taking services and providing them outside the organisation. A cloud is a network in which all
servers are connected to each other. They share, manages and process information with each
other. Then, processed information is given to the user. There are different models in cloud
computing that can be used by business. These models depend on the physical resources and its
access. Public cloud is a model that offers services to people.
They are having a large database, hardware and software. Also, they manage data and
gives access to people. Generally, a public cloud is developed by state or central government. On
the other hand, private cloud is developed by organisation for their personal use. They are used
by large organisations who operates at global level. In this cloud, companies stores and manages
their private data. It is kept due to some security reasons. Also, private cloud complies with some
regulations. There are two ways through which private clouds can be located by organisation.
The first one is they can locate in their premises or host a third party private cloud. The last type
of cloud is hybrid in which both public and private clouds are integrated into one. For example –
cloud bursting in which an organisation may run web server on private cloud for their own use
and public cloud during high peak time.
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2.3 Types of cloud computing models
As said by Rittinghouse and Ransome, (2016) there are commonly three types of cloud
computing models that are used by business. The implementation of model depends upon the
nature and size of business. Also, there are other factors that are considered while selecting the
appropriate model such as requirements, financial situation, range of operations, etc. These are as
follows:-
Software as a service (SaaS) – It is a model in which software and its functions are delivered
through a web based service. In this the business does not pay fees to purchase license or
software instead they pay monthly or annual fees for using that service. It is a very flexible
model as it can be used anytime, anywhere (3 Types of Cloud Computing Services, 2017). There
are many examples of SaaS model such as Microsoft office, Dropbox. Sometimes, it is called as
on demand software. SaaS is the most widely used models by companies.
Platform as a service (PaaS) - It is a model in which a platform is made to deliver service. In
this company manages and purchase their own hardware and software. Mostly the PaaS are
designed to create and deploy software. There are some example of PaaS like IBM, Google
cloud platform, etc. In this an operating system is installed that acts as base for developing
applications. Sometimes, PaaS acts as mediator between SaaS and IaaS.
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) - As the name suggests it is a computer infrastructure that
consists of servers, storage and networking as service. In this there is a cloud vendor that
manages IT infrastructure (Almorsy, Grundy and Müller, 2016). For example – IBM, Microsoft
Azure, Amazon web services, etc. it is very low level model as resources are provided via virtual
interface. Likewise, PaaS and SaaS, this model do not include applications or operating systems.
It simply requires infrastructure to support this software. It also provides extra storage and back
up in storing data.
These three are the most common cloud computing models but they offer service as well.
For example – database as a service, mobile back end and functions as a service. According to
Manivannan and Zeadally, (2016) there are many benefits of using cloud computing models. It
helps in providing easy access to data 24*7 anytime, anywhere. Besides this, it benefits business
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in providing scalability to store and manage data at large scale. By this they have the
accessibility in using cloud computing services to deliver service. It has revolutionised the way
of providing services in to old age people in home care. Moreover, it has enhanced the quality of
care. With this people in home care are getting effective services in proper time. Due to
implementation of cloud computing paper work has been reduced. It is provided advantage to
home care industry to a great extent.
2.4 Importance of cloud computing in business
In the view of Oliveira, Thomas and Espadanal, 2014 cloud computing has emerged as a
new trend in business. The main purpose of implementation of this in business is it has made
operations easy by integrating them. Along with this, it has provided a platform through which
services can be delivered quickly and effectively. Another benefit it has given is cost saving. Due
to automation, paper work has reduced. This has enabled business to manage operations and
provide solutions. Moreover, most of IT services are being outsourced. Due to this business has
saved time and focus on improving other technological services. Furthermore, developing clouds
has enabled them to share IT resources with third party (Importance of cloud computing, 2017).
Apart from this, it has provided a data back-up storage service and layer of security. It has also
benefited in providing services in large area. It can be accessed anytime, anywhere. By using this
business has started a new concept of n demand service. In this user can get data and information
in real time.
As said by Díaz, Martín and Rubio, (2016) in dynamic environment, it is important for
business to meet customer demand in right time so that it can be retained. Thus, hardware and
software can be developed as per the requirements of business. This has provided scalability to
organisation. Other than this, the integration of process and methods has benefited in developing
a user friendly application or software. The main advantage cloud computing has given to
business is storage of large volume of data. Not only it stores and manage data but also take back
and recover it in case of lost. This has made it easy for business in storing of data as separate
infrastructure is not required.
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Generally, in large organisation data centres requires a high cooling system so that server
can run smoothly. These systems can add to cost of electricity bills. Therefore, third party is used
by organisation for cloud computing. This saves cost as separate data centre are not required. As
elucidated by Chouvarda and et.al., (2015) using of cloud computing has allowed business to
expand in different and wide areas. With this services are provided to more customers. It has
resulted in generating more sales and profits. Also, by this business has been able to gain
competitive advantage in industry. The evolution of cloud computing has provided flexibility to
employees in working. This has enhanced their productivity and motivated them. They are able
to maintain balance between personal and professional life.
According to Stantchev and et.al., (2015) cloud computing is important for business
because third party is responsible for managing this model. So if there comes any update it will
be done by third party. This results in less cost of maintenance. If there occurs any technical
problem in data centre of organisation it will affect the overall operations. So if third maintain
and regulates those data centre then it will be easy for company to retrieve data. Moreover,
business do not have to replace cloud computing continuously. It is because it can be updated
with new features with technological advancements. In this way organisation can become a
technology leader in the industry. In the view of Rittinghouse and Ransome, (2016) for security
of data and information an agreement is signed between third party and organisation.
It states that data will be kept secured and confidential and will not be shared. So it also
provides this feature to business. The implementation of cloud computing has increased
collaboration between employees. It provides a platform through operations can be performed
together. As said by Islam, Manivannan and Zeadally, (2016) cloud computing has played a vital
role for small and medium size enterprise. It has increased their ability to compete with big
players in the market. By using it they deliver service in wide areas. It has led to develop a large
customer base and generating more sales and revenues. It has helped them to enhance their
competitiveness in the industry. With this they are also able to compete with them.
Thus, it has been said by Gorgoglione, Dekorsy and Fettweis, (2014) that cloud
computing has played a crucial role for small and medium enterprise. It has made it possible for
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