Meta-study of success-related factors of SaaS providers based on a cloud computing ecosystem perspective
Sebastian Floerecke, Franz Lehner · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · 2022
Due to the commercial launch of cloud computing, traditional value chains in IT service provision were expanded and partially replaced by networked relations which formed an increasingly incomprehensible business ecosystem. Consequently, both incumbent IT service providers and start-ups were able to assume new roles. Software as a Service (SaaS) providers occupy the largest segment and offer ready-to-use software applications. Numerous studies have been conducted with the aim of detecting which factors determine the success of SaaS providers. However, these studies fail to provide a holistic overview of the current state of research. Under these circumstances, inadequate support is given to the executives of SaaS providers when it comes to their decision-making processes. In this book chapter, the results from a comparative analysis of studies on success-related factors of SaaS providers are presented. The analysis is based on the Passau Cloud Computing Ecosystem model, a role-based model of the cloud ecosystem.