INTRODUCTION
1.0
BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
Cloud accounting applications provide much of the same
functionality as desktop accounting software with one major difference: Cloud
accounting apps run on remote servers and are accessed via a web browser. Cloud
accounting applications are typically offered in one of these two formats: Hosted applications
– The hosted solutions involve your desktop or client/server accounting
application running on a remote server. You gain access to your accounting
software using a remote session via the Internet. This solution allows you to
use your existing software and data. Software as a Service – In this
format, the accounting software and your data are stored on the vendor’s
servers and are accessible via a web browser. If you have ever used a social
media site or online banking, you have used a SaaS solution. The advent of new
generation of Web-based services is provided by "Cloud Computing. Since
2010 there has been a great revolution of the use of this services.(Yoonesian,
2014). However many firms and organizations have still not adopted this
technology in the world but due to its significance in driving high
organizational productivity and performance it seem inevitable that the use of
this technology increase in the near future (Maleki, 2014). The use of cloud computing technology enable users
to access programs, storage
spaces, processing and even application development platforms through various
tools; such as PCs, laptops, cellphones and PDA, and also through services
provided by cloud computing. So, resources are placed on the servers'' side
instead of users'' side. Cloud computing services are in the form of Utility
Computing; this means that customers'' needed services will be offered in
servers and its payments like other public utilities- electricity, water,
telephone, etc. are based on the level of individuals'' usage (Akbari &
Sargolzaii Javan, 2010). NIST defines cloud computing as a model for having
comprehensive and easy access; and according to the order of a set of
configuration-able computing resources such as networks, servers, storing
spaces, applications and services to provide service quickly and through doing
the least work or without the need for intervention of service provider. In
other words, cloud computing is a model from sets of models available for
sharing resources. Other computing models are grid computing, autonomic
computing, mainframe, utility computing, and peer to peer computing (Maleki,
2014). Could computing is an approach which it offers a wide range of ICT
services according to the demand and need of customer through public (Internet)
and private networks or both of them by using ICT developments like
virtualization and grid computing through virtual hardware and software (Sultan
& Sultan, 2012). Cloud computing refers to the applications provided on the
Internet and systemic hardware and software in the data centers (Armbrust et
al, 2010) Cloud accounting ensures that accounting software and operating
results are available to you from a browser or mobile device. This is something
that you can’t do with today’s desktop accounting solutions. It also provides
better security Most cloud accounting software is run from a data center, which
offers multiple levels of security to protect the software and your data. The
typical data center has significantly better security than most small businesses.
Also no installations
or updates required – Cloud accounting vendors maintain the
software and install the updates. It also provides Automatic backups – The cloud vendor assumes
responsibility for system backups. Your data is often stored in multiple data
centers that are in geographically diverse locations. Cloud accounting
applications are rented not purchased. They do not require a small business to invest
in servers or software. Cloud accounting applications are delivered via a web
browser and typically support all popular platforms. Through this emerging
technology''s approach, the world of computing moves quickly to a direction that
applicants tend to get services from cloud providers instead of doing works and
getting required services locally. So, cloud computing is a way to increase
capacity, or to do it dynamically without investing in new infrastructure. It
is also training a new person or authorizing new software. Because it assigns the
necessary measures and solutions for cloud providers rather than focus on
providing appropriate local solutions for the mentioned issues. Also,
organization will prevent from continuity in providing solutions for mentioned
issues significantly if the organization itself be a cloud provider (Barnett,
2010).The study seek to investigate the effect of cloud accounting on Organizational
productivity. A case study of spring light technology.
1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The complexity of organizational operations and the
relatively high level of competition is greatly affecting the productivity
level of many organizations. Consequently the developments in management
knowledge have made it inevitable the existence of evaluation system. The lack
of proper evaluation system for the evaluation of Use of resources and
facilities, personnel, objectives and strategies is one of the symptoms of
organization disease (Tavalaaee, 2007). Continuous improvement in
organizations'' performance makes a great power of synergy that these could
support development .The use of cloud
computing technology enable users to access
programs, storage spaces, processing and even application development
platforms through various tools; such as PCs, laptops, cellphones and PDA, and
also through services provided by cloud computing. However many firms and
organizations have still not adopted this technology in driving high organizational productivity
and performance. (Maleki, 2014). Organizational performance improvement should
be based on a process which it is called "performance cycle". Every
organizational performance application should start from measuring performance
and then evaluate it (Pakravan & Xowbiari, 2015). The problem confronting
the study is to investigate the effect of cloud accounting on organizational
productivity.