The role of use for the business value of big data analytics

Abstract

Big data analytics (BDA) has attracted significant attention from organisations who are seeking to leverage its analytical capabilities to enhance performance. Yet, most BDA investments fail to realise their expected value, indicating that the path for BDA value creation remains unclear; scholars call for a better understanding of the role of BDA use. Therefore, we seek to answer the research question: How does the use of BDA impact business value? We conducted a developmental literature review, resulting in the conceptualisation of the BDA-Use-Value (BDA-UV) framework. The framework consists of 10 constructs: BDA system capabilities, BDA use, BDA users and tasks, BDA organisational capabilities, complementary organisational resources, BDA learning, goal-oriented activities, intermediate outcomes, ultimate outcomes, and the internal and external environment. The framework also includes 10 propositions, which illuminate the relationships within the BDA value chain, BDA learning loop, and BDA context. This research contributes to theory by providing a consolidated view of disparate yet commensurate research streams (business value of IT and system use) and is critical in the BDA context where organisations are struggling to leverage BDA’s informating potential to derive value.