Aceitação e uso de ferramentas de computação em nuvem: um estudo sobre o contexto informacional de secretários de pós-graduação em uma instituição de ensino superior

Abstract

Among the Information Technologies (IT) that enable improvements in the performance ofinformational activities, cloud computing tools stand out. Pillars of the so-called fourthindustrial revolution, these tools provide advantages such as online data storage, collaborativework, ease of access and information sharing. However, even in the face of the potentialbenefits and other possibilities arising from the use of such technology, it is not yet fullyunderstood how these tools are accepted and used by individuals. This gap is also present inthe work context of educational institutions, causing organizational efforts and resources to bewasted and promising technologies for improving services to be unusable. In view of this, thepresent research aimed to describe the acceptance and use of cloud computing in theperformance of informational and knowledge activities among technical-administrativeofficers of Postgraduate secretariats of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. Themethodological approach used was based on a quantitative and descriptive approach. As aresearch strategy, a survey was carried out, through the application of a questionnaire basedon the Model of Acceptance and Use of Integrated Technology, TAM 3, in addition tosociodemographic questions, applied to UFRN Postgraduate secretaries, to capture theirperceptions with regard to the use and acceptance of cloud computing tools. The populationwas divided into two groups, who responded to the survey regarding cloud storage tools anddocument editors, respectively. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, usingmeasures of central tendency and dispersion, in addition to frequency distribution, and aseven-point likert scale to assess the TAM3 constructs. As a result, it was possible to verify,regarding the evaluation of the acceptance of cloud computing by users in the organization, ahigh incidence and frequency of use. The most used tool typologies were e-mail, followed bystorage and finally by cloud document editors, in which the vast majority make use mainly ofGoogle products. Regarding the two models researched, storage and document editors, it wasseen that the purposes of use range from general to more specific. Both types of tools reachedvery similar results with identical or very close acceptance levels. Of the 50 inquiries madebased on the TAM3, only 8 obtained slight quantitative differences, with distinction of thedegree of acceptance, however, the comparative analysis found that there was no significantdifference. Finally, it became evident that the cloud technologies evaluated here are presentedwith appropriate use and showing that the applications are true allies to the Information andKnowledge Management practiced by the secretaries in their workplaces. Finally, it becameevident that the cloud technologies evaluated here are presented with appropriate use,showing that the applications are true allies to the Information and Knowledge Managementpracticed by the secretaries in their workplaces. A plan was also developed to strengthen theuse and acceptance of cloud computing tools, with the help of the Project Model Canvas tool,aiming to improve the use of the cloud computing typologies studied and, consequently, thestructuring of excellence of the Postgraduate programs.