Skill deficits impact cloud business returns

Abstract

Cloud computing (Cloud) presents an opportunity to businesses for cost reduction in IT services, however, it also requires new skills to optimize the effective management and realization of the business benefits. The skills gap is described as a deficit because many previous management methods and strategies fail to adequately cover the new requirements and fully grasp the value opportunity. Businesses are offered the opportunity to purchase IT services (computing, storage, software, etc.) as required rather than retaining traditional IT assets and infrastructures. Management must disentangle from former IT services supply arrangements, and effectively engage with new contractual and trust requirements. This research proposes the next question: What are the impacts of Cloud computing on the required business IT skill sets? A sample of 20 industry consultants was analyzed through interviews and the data was thematically analyzed in NVIVO to answer the research question. It was found that some skill sets have become irrelevant to business performance and other new ones are in demand. Skills deficits were particularly apparent in the security area where privacy and data protection are a concern. The implications are for new Cloud management knowledge and techniques, education and training, and for implementing effective utilization.