ITC/USA 2010 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Sixth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 25-28, 2010 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / The development and analysis cloud is a rapid development system being designed to support the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Simulation & Technology Assessment Branch. The purpose is to isolate research, development, test, and evaluation of unique software within a Zone D enclave [1] to allow researchers and analysts to develop and test software free of the many IT requirements that hamper development and without risk of contaminating the overall Air Force network. The cloud system is being designed so researchers and analysts will utilize Software as a Service (SaaS) models. Such a model makes it transparent to users such things as where the software originates and any licensing concerns. Utilities, tools, and other enhancing software that users need are published and using them frees the developer to focus on their specific development efforts versus tertiary development modules.

Studien avser att beskriva om och hur faktorernakärnkompetens, osäkerhet, nyttoaspekter och kontroll/flexibilitet påverkat besluten vid inköp av cloud-tjänsten SaaS. Uppsatsen är en kvalitativ studie som är baserad på semistruktuerade intervjuer med nyckelpersoner på två små IT-företag samt vetenskapliga artiklar och litteratur inom ämnesområdet. Studiens slutsats är att de båda företagen påverkats av några eller alla faktorer vid inköpen av cloud-tjänsten. Faktorn nyttoaspekter påverkade båda företagens inköpsbeslut i hög grad. Faktorerna osäkerhet och kontroll/flexibilitet påverkade inte alls inköpsbeslutet hos det ena företaget medan de till stor del påverkade inköpsbeslutet hos det andra företaget. Faktorn kärnverksamhet påverkade det ena företagets inköpsbeslut till en viss del och det andra företaget till en stor del.

For most of organizations initiating IT projects to improve the business performance, they could possibly face an opportunities lost and spend a huge project cost resulting in losing competence in making profit simply due to IT project failure. The senior managers in the organization need fully understand what kind resources and capabilities are required for the project team to ensure the success. As value proposition addressed by ASP (application services provider), Software as a Service or on-demand application, it will allow organizations to only focus on the business needs and redesign the cross-functional and cross-organizational processes. Also the IT project could quickly show its striking value in a shorter time frame by outsourcing the technical works to application service provider. In other words, ASP business model provide customers a new choice to access the system services via the internet. These solution providers not only develop the product and upgrade roadmaps but also operate and maintain the systems on behalf of the customers. It¡¦s also a method for the customers to enjoy the latest technology and professional services in an economical way. The value of this research work is to analyze how the senior managers of the enterprise making the choices over different alternatives under the organizational constraints comprising successful stories, personal own experiences and used operational practices in the past. A case study of B2B supply chain collaboration project is used to revisit the managers¡¦ assumptions and elaborate how these organizational constraints are exercised in the project evaluation, decision and implementation cycle based on a generic evaluation and decision framework of B2B collaboration solutions. This report intends to provide some insight and suggestions for the senior managers to take advantage of the opportunities and advantage, like the Software as a Service or On-demand applications, enabled by the internet world. An optimized decision can be possibly achieved only if the managers are aware of the invisible organizational constraints.

V současném ekonomickém prostředí je velmi silný tlak na inovace jednotlivých softwarových výrobců, poskytovatelů služeb v oblasti IT či systémových integrátorů. Předmětem konkurenčního boje se nestává produkt nebo služba jako taková, ale i forma jejího zajištění a obchodní model, který definuje kvalitu a cenu pro zákazníka. V posledních letech zaznamenáváme vzestupnou tendenci výrobců / dodavatelů softwaru nabídnout dodávku software přímo formou služby tzv. Software as a Service neboli on-demand. Primárním cílem této diplomové práce je přispět k rozvoji teoretické základny modelů Software as s Service s hlavním zaměřením na oblast kancelářských aplikací pro segment malých a středně velkých firem.

Social media data can be collected and analyzed during and after crisis events to aid in disaster relief efforts. Setting up a system to perform this analysis is associated with various technical challenges. This thesis presents the design and implementation of a social media analysis as a service system. This system is hosted on cloud infrastructure and allows for on demand collection, processing, and delivery of social media data via an intuitive web interface. The service model and cloud infrastructure allow the system to be highly scalable and produce near real time analysis data. A cost evaluation of the system was performed and presented in this thesis. The SMAS system was evaluated through a user study and participants found the system unique, interesting, and easy to understand and use. The usability of the system was also evaluated during the user study and resulted in a system usability score of 79.25 out of 100. Suggestions to improve the system and increase its adoptability are also discussed. The thesis concludes with suggestions for future work.

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The diploma thesis deals with the definition of transformation process of the "appropriate" application into Software as a Service (SaaS) distribution model. For this purpose, it describes the SaaS model and evaluates its pros and cons in four points of view -- developer, distributor, customer and user. Following parts of the model description are an estimation of the future evolution of the SaaS model, the introduction of application SaaS Platforms and the specification of appropriate application for the SaaS model. Next chapter deals with the specifications of the application distributed in the Software as a Service model. These specifications define all needed application properties that have to be implemented in the transformation process. These specifications are for example differentiation of customer data and administration access, configuration and customization, application and data security, business and pricing model, service level agreement etc. The last chapter deals with the formulation of the transformation process of the application into SaaS model. Individual activities of the process are closely described and demonstrated on the preparation of details for the transformation of the web-based application Audit Information Tracker into SaaS model.

This thesis focuses on the ubiquitous cloud computing trend and particularly Software as a Service. The main goal is to specify all pros and cons of this concept for its customers and also cloud providers. The global perspective is then specified to Software as a Service and deployment of SaaS ERP products. The next goal is to define an appropriate method to analyze a company's needs prior to switching to the cloud. Furthermore, recommendations as to whether the cloud is better than an on-premise version should result from the previous analysis. Another aim is to form a process for successful switch to the cloud and ensure all important aspects of using cloud services are covered. Theoretical findings and recommendations are used in a practical example of SaaS ERP deployment. To reach all goals, a theoretical analysis of all available monograph and electronic sources, covering cloud computing and consultations with experts from the company; Algotech BSC, were used. The main added value is in the dual point of view on the topic, from customer's and provider's viewpoints with a more detailed focus on ERP. The author suggests the right procedure for switching to the cloud, guidance with calculating ROI, TCO and preparing all necessary contracts and agreements.

Införandet av ny teknologi i organisationer är ett ständigt aktuellt forskningsområde inom affärssystemforskningen. De senaste åren har fenomenet ”Molntjänster”, eller Software as a Service (SaaS), vuxit i popularitet. Många affärssystemleverantörer erbjuder idag sina kunder affärssystem som en molntjänst. SaaS-baserade affärssystem ger organisationer fördelar i jämförelse med traditionella affärssystem som installeras lokalt i organisationen, som exempelvis ökad skalbarhet, bättre åtkomstmöjligheter, samt lägre kostnader för implementation - vilket gör det särskilt intressant för små och medelstora organisationer. Dock innebär SaaS-baserade affärssystem även risker, som relateras till exempelvis bristande säkerhet, begränsade möjligheter till systemanpassning och integration, bristande prestanda, samt leverantörsinlåsning. Dessa risker kan få organisationer att tveka till att implementera SaaS-baserade affärssystem, trots identifierade fördelar. Tidigare forskning har identifierat både fördelar och risker med SaaS-baserade affärssystem, men lite är känt om varför små och medelstora organisationer väljer att införa sådana system trots de risker systemen är associerade med. Studiens syfte är därför att skapa förståelse för vad som har betydelse för att små och medelstora organisationer implementerar SaaS-baserade affärssystem, trots kända risker. Studiens resultat indikerar att förståelse för risker, tillit och förtroende för systemleverantören, reducerat kompetensbehov internt i organisationer, samt graden av komparativa fördelar har betydelse för organisationers vilja och acceptans till att implementera SaaS-baserade affärssystem, trots risker. Studiens slutsatser har även bidragit med rekommendationer för hur systemleverantörer av SaaS-baserade affärssystem kan utveckla sina värdeerbjudanden. Exempelvis rekommenderas systemleverantörer att vara ärliga och transparenta i kommunikationen mot kundorganisationer, samt att samarbeta med kundorganisationer genom hela implementationsfasen och efter slutförda implementationsprojekt. / The introduction of new technology in organizations is an ever-present area of research within ERP systems research. In recent years, the phenomenon of "Cloud Services", or Software as a Service (SaaS), is growing in popularity. Today, many ERP system suppliers offer their customers ERP systems as a cloud service. SaaS-based ERP systems give organizations advantages over traditional ERP systems that are installed locally in the organization, such as increased scalability, better accessibility, and lower implementation costs - which makes them particularly interesting for small and medium-sized organizations. However, SaaS-based ERP systems also involve risks that are related to, for example, lack of security, limited possibilities for system customization and integration, lack of system performance, and supplier lock-in. These risks may cause organizations to avoid SaaS-based ERP systems, despite identified benefits. Earlier research has identified both benefits and risks with SaaS-based ERP systems, but little is known about why small and medium-sized organizations choose to implement such systems despite the risks associated with them. The aim of the study is therefore to create an understanding of why small and medium-sized organizations choose to implement SaaS-based ERP systems, despite known risks. The study's results indicate that understanding of risks, trust and confidence in the system vendor, reduced internal competence needs, and the level of comparative advantages are important for organizations' willingness and acceptance to implement SaaS-based ERP systems, despite risks. The study’s conclusions also contributed with recommendations for how systems suppliers of SaaS-based ERP systems can develop their value propositions. For example, system suppliers are advised to be honest and transparent in communicating with customer organizations, as well as collaborating with customer organizations throughout the implementation phase and after the completion of implementation projects.

Cloud-Technologien ermöglichen Endnutzern das flexible und bedarfsgerechte Beziehen von IT-Leistungen über das Internet. In einer Public Cloud können die Dienste oder Ressourcen von beliebigen Unternehmen und Endnutzern zeit- sowie ortsunabhängig verwendet werden. Nutzer von Cloud-basierten Softwareanwendungen haben keinen Einfluss auf die sachgerechte Verwaltung und Überwachung der darunterliegenden Cloud-Infrastruktur. Infolgedessen haben sie zunehmend Bedenken hinsichtlich der Sicherheit ihrer Daten oder in Bezug auf die Performance bzw. Verfügbarkeit des Dienstes. Um diese Bedenken abzubauen, müssen die nichtfunktionalen Eigenschaften eines Dienstes betrachtet werden, da sie dessen qualitative Wahrnehmung beeinflussen. Derzeit steht Endnutzern weder ein vollständiger Kriterienkatalog zur Bewertung von Cloud-Diensten als Orientierungshilfe zur Verfügung noch sind Cloud-Gütesiegel oder Zertifikate ausreichend verbreitet. Mangelnde Fachkenntnisse und verstreute oder nicht verfügbare Qualitätsinformationen führen dazu, dass Endnutzer die Dienstqualität nur erschwert oder gar nicht bewerten können. Das Ziel der Dissertation ist, Cloud-Nutzer bei der schnellen und umfangreichen Überwachung und Bewertung der Qualität ihrer Public-Cloud-Dienste zu unterstützen. Die Berücksichtigung der Nutzerinteressen und -bedürfnisse in Bezug auf die Dienstqualität steht dabei im Vordergrund. Die Untersuchung der verwandten Cloud-spezifischen Qualitätsmodelle hat gezeigt, dass die Modelle unvollständig sind und keine Aussagen zu deren Eignung und Akzeptanz aus Nutzersicht getroffen werden. Folglich werden in der Arbeit zunächst die nichtfunktionalen Qualitätsattribute von Softwareanwendungen identifiziert und nutzerfreundlich kategorisiert. Das daraus abgeleitete Modell bildet die Grundlage für ein Qualitätsinformationssystem, das Endnutzer künftig bei der kontinuierlichen Einschätzung der Qualität ihrer Dienste unterstützen soll. Darüber hinaus wird ein Konzept zur nutzerfreundlichen visuellen Aufbereitung der Qualitätsinformationen entwickelt. Es werden Empfehlungen zur Darstellung, Strukturierung und Verknüpfung der Informationen innerhalb des Systems gegeben. Jeder Nutzer kann individuell festlegen, über welche Qualitätseigenschaften er informiert werden möchte und wann die Qualität eines Dienstes als hoch eingeschätzt werden soll. Mit der prototypisch technischen Realisierung des Qualitätsinformationssystems werden die praktische Eignung des Qualitätsmodells und Konzeptes demonstriert. Ferner belegen die Ergebnisse von zwei Nutzerbefragungen, dass Cloud-Nutzer durch das Informationssystem bei der Qualitätsbewertung unterstützt werden und mit dem System grundsätzlich zufrieden sind.