ORIGINAL ARTICLE An integrated TOE–DoI framework for cloud computing adoption in the higher education sector: case study of Sub-Saharan Africa, Ethiopia Kamal Kant Hiran 1 • Anders Henten 1 Received: 10 April 2019 / Revised: 19 July 2019 Ó The Society for Reliability Engineering, Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM), India and The Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden 2019 Abstract This research paper describes an integrated framework based on both the ‘Technology–Organization– Environment (TOE) framework’ and ‘Diffusion of Inno- vation (DoI) theory’. The study explores the noteworthy factors and sub-factors which are pertinent for the adoption of cloud computing in the Ethiopian Higher Education (EHE) sector. The technology literature herein was based on technology adoption frameworks and theories which were studied in order to identify a set of factors and sub- factors relevant to cloud computing adoption. It resulted in conceptualizing an integrated TOE–DoI framework for cloud computing adoption in higher education at the uni- versity in Ethiopia and in developing its reliable measures. Accordingly, a quantitative study was done with a ques- tionnaire survey comprising 500 respondents in connection with 4 factors (technological, organizational, environmen- tal and socio-cultural). Consequently, the cloud computing adoption in Ethiopia was established using factors and concepts adopted from the study. It confirmed that the TOE–DoI approach to higher education in Ethiopia is authenticated. Thus, the four factors’ reliability statistics validated with a Cronbach’s alpha a = 0.739, 0.712, 0.761, 0.841, and Cronbach’s alpha ‘a’ based on standard items a = 0.740, 0.713, 0.762 and 0.842 for technology, organi- zational, environmental, and socio-cultural factors. This indicates that scaling the four aspects therein suggests profound evidence to determine a cloud computing adop- tion in EHE with TOE–DoI integration. Keywords TOE Á DoI Á Ethiopian Higher Education (EHE) Á Factors Á Integration Á Cloud computing 1 Introduction As technology makes noteworthy developments throughout the modern world, the primary driving force is unques- tionably a greater computing capacity. Developed countries have invested greatly in cloud computing systems to adapt to hi-tech advancements within various industries of their economies. However, Cloud adoption is still in its infancy in both developing and underdeveloped nations as they attempt some form of digital transformation of their data systems. Accordingly, the adoption of Cloud computing has positively impacted Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily Ethiopia in recent times (Tesfaye et al. 2016). In this hi-tech progression, the Cloud serves as an essential element to Information and Com- munication Technology (ICT) as hundreds of millions of computer users worldwide can enjoy flexible computing power on-demand via the Internet. This alleviates the pressure on organizations investing in and maintaining costly computer hardware and software resources which inadvertently facilitates and enable developmental strate- gies for the reduction of poverty and other nuances in the developing world (Hassan et al. 2017; Hiran et al. 2014). This paves the way for the Cloud to become the new standard of computing in deploying essential IT services to individuals, businesses, philanthropic organizations, as well as governments. & Kamal Kant Hiran kkh@es.aau.dk Anders Henten henten@cmi.aau.dk 1 Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark 123 Int J Syst Assur Eng Manag https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-019-00872-z