Exploring the Impact of SaaS Acceptance and Adoption on Faculty Performance in Libyan Higher Education Institutions

الملخص

This study explores the impact of Software as a Service (SaaS) adoption in Libyan higher education institutions (HEIs) on faculty performance. Despite the numerous advantages of SaaS, such as reduced infrastructure costs and easier access to online applications, its adoption in many developing countries, including Libya, remains limited and largely confined to small-scale implementations. To address this gap, the study employs the Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance and Use (UTAUT) to examine the key determinants influencing SaaS adoption, including performance expectations, effort expectations, social influence, enabling conditions, and behavioral intent.

A quantitative approach was used, and data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to 120 faculty members across several HEIs in Libya. The study and its hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS software. The results showed that behavioral intention significantly and positively influences the adoption of Software as a Service (SaaS) application. Furthermore, both performance expectations and effort expectations significantly influence faculty members' behavioral intention to use SaaS technologies, while social influence and facilitating conditions showed no significant impact in this context. These findings highlight the importance of

perceived usefulness and ease of use in encouraging SaaS adoption. The study emphasizes the need for Libyan HEIs to enhance their technological infrastructure, provide training programs, and strengthen institutional support to facilitate faculty interaction with and adoption of cloud technologies, thereby improving their performance.