An adapted Information System Success Model for Software-as-a-Service Solutions : Management Support, User Involvement, and Trust as Antecedents to Information Systems Success

Sammanfattning: Background: The companies of Industry 4.0 need to invest in digitalising their organizations as software is growing into a decisive manufacturing determinant. Especially in the SaaS business and the transformation to Industry 4.0, there are many small companies that are driving the transformation while competing for market share. In this context, the SaaS providers need to develop an understanding of the success of their solution. While the Information Systems Success Model by DeLone and McLean has found some application in the context of SaaS solutions, there is no specific model for the SaaS industry. Furthermore, there is the underlying need to understand which antecedents cause or influence the success of an information system. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop an Information Systems Success Model for Software-as-a-Service companies and to understand the antecedents and their relationships to the success of SaaS solutions from the SaaS provider’s point of view. Method: This study followed an abductive approach due to the possibility to simultaneously review existing theory and examine the empirical findings in the analysis. Furthermore, an exploratory study was conducted utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative data was gathered through a standardized online survey of the customers of a SaaS provider and then analysed using Structural Equation Modelling. The qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews with SaaS providers, SaaS customers, and researchers of related fields and then analysed using a hermeneutic data analysis approach. The results of both methods were then triangulated to create the adapted model. Conclusion: Three antecedents of information systems success in the SaaS context were identified as part of this study. The antecedents are Management Support, User Involvement, and Trust. These antecedents can be used as levers by the SaaS provider to steer the success of their solution. Furthermore, the antecedents are integrated in a comprehensive Information Systems Success Model to measure and understand the success of SaaS solutions from the SaaS provider’s point of view.