Navigating the Cloud - A Mechanism-Based Framework for Cloud Adoption
Abstract. Cloud computing has transformed organizational IT from internally owned infrastructure into globally distributed platform ecosystems. This study develops a mechanism-based framework explaining how cloud provider design choices, including pricing models, service models, and ecosystem structures, shape organizational adoption decisions and outcomes through key economic mechanisms, including switching costs, cost uncertainty, scalability benefits, and ecosystem complementarities. Drawing on a structured, theory-driven literature review, the analysis shows how these mechanisms jointly influence cloud adoption strategies, emphasizing trade-offs among flexibility, efficiency, and provider dependency. The study contributes to the information systems literature by integrating fragmented research into a coherent framework that links provider design choices to organizational outcomes, developing a set of testable propositions, and providing a foundation for future research on cloud adoption as an economic and organizational phenomenon.
Is Digital Sovereignty Achievable? Evidence From Server Locations and Data Flows
Abstract. This study investigates the achievability of digital sovereignty within the European Union by examining website data flows, mainly focusing on non-personal data. Amid growing concerns over data governance and the resurgence of digital sovereignty as a central theme in EU policies, this research uniquely addresses firms' data storage decisions and their implications for EU users. Utilizing an original dataset of the most visited websites in France, this paper analyzes data location preferences across various sectors, revealing a complex interplay between privacy regulations, firm size, sector-specific tendencies, and the underlying internet infrastructure. The findings suggest that firms prioritize data storage in countries with strong privacy regulations and tend to locate data closer to consumers to minimize latency. However, variations are observed based on sector-specific needs and firm size, with larger and tech-oriented firms showing less sensitivity to distance. The study also highlights the significant role of the Internet's backbone infrastructure in shaping data storage strategies, pointing to potential challenges in aligning with digital sovereignty goals.
