CLOUD COMPUTING: A CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS FACULTY AT A UNIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND A UNIVERSITY IN SAUDI ARABIA

Cloud computing is similar to any new technology and can cause major challenges and opportunities for faculty in institutions of Higher Education. This study was undertaken to determine how Computer and Information Systems (CIS) faculty at two universities view the acceptance and use of cloud computing technology within their respective departments. One university is located in the United States and the other is located in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, this study sought to examine the commonalities and differences between these diverse universities as related to the advantages and disadvantages of using cloud computing, identify the key factors that influence adopting/using cloud computing, and determine each university’s overall perception of cloud computing. This study also sought to determine if there are differences between CIS faculty in a U.S.-based university and in a Saudi Arabian-based university regarding perceived knowledge of Cloud Computing and the status of adoption of Cloud Computing