Abstract
In today’s modern world, technology is a dynamic field with constant changes, improvements and new discoveries even before anyone is fully comfortable or used to the way it was. Cloud computing is no exception; it has gained momentum over the past decade and a half with the migration to the cloud growing at an incremental rate each year. Organisations migrate to the cloud for various reasons. However, some organisations migrate prematurely without fully understanding the impact on various factors.
This research focused on the influence of change management processes on cloud transitioning. The study included the feasibility of using the COBIT framework to adequately manage organisational change when migrating to the cloud.
The quantitative research methodology used a survey, in the form of a closed-ended questionnaire. The research method was explorative; it looked at the available information to shed new light on a partially solved problem or any knowledge regarding it. Furthermore, the concept of cloud computing and applying the COBIT framework in the context of organisational change was explored. A combination of these concepts was necessary as these had not been explored to their optimal levels. A correlation coefficient analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the COBIT change management processes and the success rate of cloud computing.
The results of this research suggest that there is not one IT governance framework that solves all the problems of transitioning to the cloud. Furthermore, it is suggested that there is a relationship between change management processes and the success rate of cloud computing, i.e., change management processes have some influence on the success of cloud transitioning. Future research could include the possibility of creating a cloud-readiness assessment model to assist businesses to make an informed decision when migrating to the cloud.
Key words: Cloud computing, IT governance, change management, COBIT framework.