Latent Effects of Cloud Computing on IT Capacity Management Structures

Abstract

Cloud computing is a disruptive technology providing the occasion for change in the sociotechnical structures of IT capacity management, but what are the latent effects of this? With interviews from ten case study organizations, this qualitative research generates a model that describes a spectrum of IT capacity-management structures, from classic to cloud, and describes the patterned differences that were discovered. Among the ten organizations studied, the latent, or unintended consequences of IT capacitymanagement trying to "stay relevant" during a transition to cloud computing adoption appears to lead to its own obsolescence. This analysis can be used as a platform for more targeted hypothesis testing to provide evidence for or against the generalization and external validity of this exploratory research.

Capelin: Data-Driven Compute Capacity Procurement for Cloud Datacenters Using Portfolios of Scenarios

“…Related to (1), we see two works as closely related to our interview study of practitioners. In the late-1980s, Lam et al conducted a written questionnaire survey [45] and, mid-2010s, Bauer et al conducted semi-structured interviews [7]. The target group of these studies differs from ours, however, since both focus on practitioners from different industries planning the resources used by their IT department.…”

“…First, the lack of published knowledge about the current practice of long-term cloud capacity planning. For a problem of such importance and long-lasting effects, it is surprising that the only studies of how practitioners make and take long-term capacityplanning decisions are either over three decades old [45] or focus on non-experts deciding how to externally procure capacity for IT services [7]. A survey of expert capacity planners could reveal new requirements.…”

Capelin: Data-Driven Capacity Procurement for Cloud Datacenters using Portfolios of Scenarios -- Extended Technical Report

“…Related to (1), we see two works as closely related to our interview study of practitioners. In the late-1980s, Lam and Chan conducted a written questionnaire survey [44] and, mid-2010s, Bauer and Bellamy conducted semi-structured interviews [6]. The target group of these studies differs from ours, however, since both focus on practitioners from different industries planning the resources used by their IT department.…”

“…Bauer and Bellamy (2017) conduct 12 in-person interviews with "IT capacity-management practitioners" [6] in six different industries. Similar to our interviewing style, the interviews were "semi-structured", guided by questions prepared in advance.…”

“…First, the lack of published knowledge about the current practice of long-term cloud capacity planning. For a problem of such importance and long-lasting effects, it is surprising that the only studies of how practitioners make and take long-term capacityplanning decisions are either over three decades old [44] or focus on non-experts deciding how to externally procure capacity for IT services [6]. A survey of expert capacity planners could reveal new requirements.…”