Abstract

Whereas cloud computing has become a popular approach to implementing and managing information systems, little remains known about its potential impact on organizational resilience. Using a capability perspective, this study investigated the relationship between cloud computing capabilities and organizational resilience conceptualized as anticipation of crisis, coping with crisis, and adaptation to post-crisis environments. The relationship was tested based on survey data of 396 companies in Saudi Arabia. The results of the study showed that flexibility, integration, and service capabilities of cloud computing are positively related to crisis coping and adaptation, but not to crisis anticipation. Where the relationships were confirmed, a positive moderating role of cloud computing spending was also established. The results were controlled for company size and industry. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are presented and research directions are outlined.

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