Over the last six years, the term cloud computing has gone from downright obscure to de rigueur. Just because something is commonly used, however, does not mean that it's commonly understood. In fact, as I point out in Message Not Received, there's often a world of difference between the two. And that gap can cause massive problems, the subject of Why New Systems Fail.
Put differently, cloud computing seems to have finally crossed to chasm, to steal from Geoffrey Moore's iconic business book. (You see, I don't just quote my own texts.) Visually, this can be represented below:
The relatively slow adoption of cloud computing stems from many factors. Many mid-level IT folks haven't exactly spearheaded initiatives that may could have jeopardized their careers. A terrible economy certainly didn't help. Beyond that, many organizations have historically emphasized the costs and risks of cloud computing over its benefits. Now that more success stories and case studies are available, that tide is starting to change.
It'll only take a moment.
