How to keep your head above the clouds: Changing ICT worker skill sets in a cloud computing environment

Abstract

Cloud computing represents a potential paradigm shift in how organisations access and use information, communication and technology (ICT) services. Such changes in how ICT services are sourced and delivered will impact on organisational structures and associated management practices. They further question the traditional role of ICT workers. This paper contends that while the technical and potential cost saving aspects of Cloud computing have attracted much attention, far less research has been conducted into the associated human resource management (HRM) impacts of Cloud computing on ICT workers. This paper attempts to fill this gap in the literature by examining HR issues related to managing ICT workers within organisations adopting Cloud computing strategies. It further suggests that the impacts of Cloud computing may differ from previous ‘outsourcing’ strategies that were often linked to large-scale job shedding (Ross, 2002, 2003; Ross & Bamber, 2009), at least in the short- to medium-term. The paper uses transaction costs economics theories and frameworks to support the analysis.