Bringing genomics research to the cloud: a qualitative case study of genomics cloud computing adoption
Aniqah Mahamudin · 2021
Current advances in genomics technology can generate more throughput data per run than before while the cost per pair of the throughput is decreasing. The most common problem for genomics researchers is to handle the large quantity of biological data. One of the solutions currently taking place is to move from in-house computing infrastructure into cloud-based services that can be accessed through the internet. Despite many benefits associated with cloud computing, many scientists still resist fully utilizing the technology. Few studies have been done to investigate the factors that influence the genomics researcher’s decision to adopt cloud computing as well as to understand the drivers and constraints of cloud computing adoption in genomics research settings. The primary objective of this study is to assess the factors that affect the adoption process of cloud computing into genomics laboratories. Specifically, the study aims to understand the adoption process and factors that lead genomics researchers to adopt cloud computing and identify drivers and constraints during the three sequenced stages of the adoption process. To achieve the objectives of this study, a case study of a group of genomics researchers who are in the process of adopting cloud computing infrastructure has been analysed. This study identified influential factors which are characterised by the technology, organisation, environment and individual in pre-adoption, implementation and post-adoption stages. The findings illustrate that cloud computing adoption was driven and constrained by factors interacting and interplaying with the process of adoption. Based on the findings, a framework of factors influencing adoption process of cloud computing was developed. These findings have important implications and great value to the research community, genomic researchers, genomic laboratories and organisations, and cloud computing enablers and providers, to understand the adoption process of cloud computing in genomic research settings. The findings are expected to assist them to play a more active role in the adoption of cloud computing to improve the transition process. The overall framework of adoption process presented in this study helps to formulate better strategies for cloud computing adoption.