Critical Factors for Personal Cloud Storage Adoption in China

Wang, Jianya

doi:10.20309/jdis.201614

Abstract

Purpose

In order to explain and predict the adoption of personal cloud storage, this study explores the critical factors involved in the adoption of personal cloud storage and empirically validates their relationships to a user’s intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on technology acceptance model (TAM), network externality, trust, and an interview survey, this study proposes a personal cloud storage adoption model. We conducted an empirical analysis by structural equation modeling based on survey data obtained with a questionnaire.

Findings

Among the adoption factors we identified, network externality has the salient influence on a user’s adoption intention, followed by perceived usefulness, individual innovation, perceived trust, perceived ease of use, and subjective norms. Cloud storage characteristics are the most important indirect factors, followed by awareness to personal cloud storage and perceived risk. However, although perceived risk is regarded as an important factor by other cloud computing researchers, we found that it has no significant influence. Also, subjective norms have no significant influence on perceived usefulness. This indicates that users are rational when they choose whether to adopt personal cloud storage.

Research limitations

This study ignores time and cost factors that might affect a user’s intention to adopt personal cloud storage.

Practical implications

Our findings might be helpful in designing and developing personal cloud storage products, and helpful to regulators crafting policies.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first research efforts that discuss Chinese users’ personal cloud storage adoption, which should help to further the understanding of personal cloud adoption behavior among Chinese users.

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