Objectives

 

• Conduct market oriented research on the rate of adopting and using cloud services by ME SMEs;
• Exploring the critical success factors in adopting cloud computing for ME businesses;
• Improve knowledge and expertise about cloud computing potentials, current challenges and supporting techniques;
• Develop innovative model of cloud computing services at national level in ME

Summary
 
The Cloud4sme@me project has been designed to conduct comprehensive market oriented research over SMEs at national level in order to (i) identify what factors should the SMEs consider when deciding a path to adopting the CCS, and (ii) examine how cloud computing can provide SMEs in ME with potentials to achieve competitive advantage, increase efficiency and lift national productivity, all resulting with innovative validated CCS model at national level in Montenegro.
There are no academic studies on potentials of adopting and using cloud services by SMEs in Montenegro, nor studies exploring the critical success factors in adopting cloud computing for Montenegrin businesses. This is why SMEs, ICT companies and governmental bodies interested for benefits and potentials of cloud based computing at national level, need comprehensive market oriented research and organized manner for introducing cloud based services.


Background
 
A significant challenge for organizations is the need to modernize their business processes to ensure competitive value for their product and services. IT is an important enabler of activities that transforms the business process. However, continuous investment in IT resources puts significant strain on the financial health of an organization. This situation is especially concerning to the SMEs. The availability of the IT resources as a utility – the cloud computing services is an important change in the way organizations could acquire the IT resources. While the larger organizations may absorb adopting the IT resources in this new environment, the SMEs require considerations before they embrace on a path to adopting the cloud computing services.
 
European Commission (EC) in the adopted strategy “Unleashing the Potential of Cloud Computing in Europe” strongly supports development and implementation of Cloud Computing and directly encourages stakeholders to participate in developing on Cloud Computing in the EU, which could mean an additional EUR 45 billion of direct spend in the EU in 2020, as well as an overall cumulative impact on GDP of EUR 957 billion, and 3.8 million jobs, by 2020.
Literature and best practices surveys show that the trend of cloud computing could provide distinct benefits to business environments to improve digital productivity and simplify electronic business, by providing  significant opportunities for businesses of all sizes to gain discernible benefits, such as increased flexibility, online operating service availability, maintainability, affordability, and scalability.
 
ICT society in Montenegro (ME) also recognized potentials and importance of moving to clouds, but any concrete steps have not yet been taken. This is why the World Bank defined “Cloud computing: platform for development and innovations” in their Economic Report No. 73826-ME related to ME preparation for Prosperity.
This Action, with extensive market oriented research should provide realistic picture about potentials at ME society, and providing innovative and prototyped model in accordance with observed findings
 

Description

 
The main goal of this project is to conduct comprehensive market oriented research over SMEs at national level in order to (i) identify what factors should the SMEs consider when deciding a path to adopting the CCS, and (ii) examine how cloud computing can provide SMEs in ME with potentials to achieve competitive advantage, increase efficiency and lift national productivity, all resulting with innovative validated CCS model at national level in Montenegro.
At the end of project, we should to have:
 

• Improved knowledge about cloud computing potentials and cloud services for SMEs;
• Highly specialized human capacities for cloud based development in ICT company ITAS;
• Developed and prototyped innovative model of cloud computing services at national level in ME;
• Developed strategy for improved cloud based businesses for SMEs at national level

Dissemination
 
The main motivation for dissemination, from the point of view of a project, is raising awareness about cloud computing in general, as well as about potentials of cloud based services and promoting created model at national level and developed cloud services are considered as very important project activities.
Dissemination and communication of Project results, their exploitation, is in the centre of the project attention. 

WORKPLAN

WP1. Review and analyze best EU and global practices in cloud computing 1.1.       Existing EU and global practices for cloud based solutions 1.2.       Review on cloud computing service related business objectives 1.3.       Analyses of current practice in ICT development in ME 1.4.       Regulatory Compliance with international experience 1.5.       Raising awareness about cloud computing technologies and cloud based solutions

WP2. Market oriented research: Cloud perspectives of SMEs in Montenegro 2.1.      Market oriented research: Methodological approach 2.2.      Market oriented research: the Survey 2.3.      Market oriented research: Results analyses and discussions

WP3. Model of Cloud Computing Services for SMEs in Montenegro 3.1.      Assessment of drivers for Cloud Computing Adoptions by ME SMEs 3.2.     Spreading the knowledge about developing cloud based solutions: Technological Approach 3.3.     Creation of CCS model for SMEs in ME 3.4.     Validation of created model: prototyping and evaluation 3.5.     Human capability building at SMEs to accept cloud based solutions

WP4. Dissemination and Sustainability 4.1.     Planning and implementation of dissemination, exploitation and outreach 4.2.     Dissemination of project results 4.3.     Development of cloud-based strategy for sustainable improved business performance

WP5. Management & Coordination 5.1.      Overall project management 5.2.      Quality Control and Monitoring 5.3.      Coordination and Cooperation