IMPACT OF IMPLEMENTED CLOUD TECHNOLOGY ON THE STRUCTURE CENTRALIZATION AND FORMALIZATION IN MANUFACTURING COMPANIES - RESEARCH RESULTS

Implementing cloud solutions as a method to upgrade the adjustment of the company to the widely understood stakeholders' and environment needs to the company's every-day work probably affects the centralization and formalization of IT department, but the question arises if it affects also the whole company structure especially its centralization and formalization. The purpose of this study is to verify whether the introduction of the cloud technology solutions to the manufacturing companies affects the centralization and formalization of the organizational structure of the companies. The research method used was the survey (CATI). The study was conducted on a sample of 400 Polish production companies. The targeted choice sample consisted of the micro, small, medium and large firms that use cloud technology either for communication or for core processes. Implementation of the clouds into production companies did not affect the centralization of 79.5% of researched companies, the centralization increased in 10.5% of companies and decreased in 10% of them. Moreover, implementation of the cloud into production companies did not affect the formalization of 69.5% of researched companies, formalization increased in 20.5% of companies and decreased in 10% of them. Exact data have been included in the study.