IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/scaman/v34y2018i2p129-140.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Searching for big data

Author

Listed:
  • Caesarius, Leon Michael
  • Hohenthal, Jukka

Abstract

Big data is often described as a new frontier of IT-enabled competitive advantage. A limited number of exemplary firms have been used recurrently in the big data debate to serve as successful illustrations of what big data technologies can offer. These firms are well-known, data-driven organizations that often, but not always, are born digital companies. Comparatively little attention has been paid to the challenges that many incumbent organizations face when they try to explore a possible adoption of such technologies. This study investigates how incumbents handle such an exploration and what challenges they face. Drawing on a four-year qualitative field study of four large Scandinavian firms, we are able to develop a typology of how incumbents handle the exploration of and resistance to adopting big data technologies. Directly affecting the incumbents’ exploration are two aspects that separate the adoption of big data technologies from that of other technologies. First, being an elusive concept, big data technologies can mean different things to different organizations. This makes the technologies difficult to explain before an investing body, while it simultaneously opens up possibilities for creative definitions. Second, big data technologies have a transformative effect on the organization of work in firms. This transformative capability will make managers wary as it might threaten their position in the firm, and it will create ripple effects, transforming other systems besides those directly connected to the technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Caesarius, Leon Michael & Hohenthal, Jukka, 2018. "Searching for big data," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 129-140.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:scaman:v:34:y:2018:i:2:p:129-140
    DOI: 10.1016/j.scaman.2017.12.002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956522118301064
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.scaman.2017.12.002?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James G. March, 1991. "Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(1), pages 71-87, February.
    2. Curtis P. Armstrong & V. Sambamurthy, 1999. "Information Technology Assimilation in Firms: The Influence of Senior Leadership and IT Infrastructures," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 10(4), pages 304-327, December.
    3. Ritu Agarwal & Vasant Dhar, 2014. "Editorial —Big Data, Data Science, and Analytics: The Opportunity and Challenge for IS Research," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(3), pages 443-448, September.
    4. Giovanni Dosi, 2000. "Opportunities, Incentives and the Collective Patterns of Technological Change," Chapters, in: Innovation, Organization and Economic Dynamics, chapter 4, pages 145-162, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Hamid R. Ekbia, 2009. "Digital artifacts as quasi‐objects: Qualification, mediation, and materiality," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 60(12), pages 2554-2566, December.
    6. Paul Attewell, 1992. "Technology Diffusion and Organizational Learning: The Case of Business Computing," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 3(1), pages 1-19, February.
    7. Prasanna Tambe, 2014. "Big Data Investment, Skills, and Firm Value," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(6), pages 1452-1469, June.
    8. Dorothy Leonard-Barton & Isabelle Deschamps, 1988. "Managerial Influence in the Implementation of New Technology," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 34(10), pages 1252-1265, October.
    9. James Y. L. Thong & Chee-Sing Yap & K. S. Raman, 1996. "Top Management Support, External Expertise and Information Systems Implementation in Small Businesses," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 7(2), pages 248-267, June.
    10. Jeffrey Q. Barden, 2012. "The influences of being acquired on subsidiary innovation adoption," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(11), pages 1269-1285, November.
    11. Geneviève Bassellier & Izak Benbasat & Blaize Horner Reich, 2003. "The Influence of Business Managers' IT Competence on Championing IT," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 14(4), pages 317-336, December.
    12. Constantiou, Ioanna D & Kallinikos, Jannis, 2015. "New games, new rules: big data and the changing context of strategy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 63017, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    13. Raymond F. Zammuto & Terri L. Griffith & Ann Majchrzak & Deborah J. Dougherty & Samer Faraj, 2007. "Information Technology and the Changing Fabric of Organization," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(5), pages 749-762, October.
    14. Pamela J. Hinds & Mark Mortensen, 2005. "Understanding Conflict in Geographically Distributed Teams: The Moderating Effects of Shared Identity, Shared Context, and Spontaneous Communication," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(3), pages 290-307, June.
    15. Catherine Durnell Cramton, 2001. "The Mutual Knowledge Problem and Its Consequences for Dispersed Collaboration," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(3), pages 346-371, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jacques Bughin & Nicolas van Zeebroeck, 2021. "The Entrepreneurial Returns to Incumbents’ Digital Transformation," Working Papers TIMES² 2021-048, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    2. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2019. "Big data analytics and business failures in data-Rich environments: An organizing framework," MPRA Paper 91264, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Candice WALLS & Brian BARNARD, 2020. "Success Factors of Big Data to Achieve Organisational Performance: Theoretical Perspectives," Expert Journal of Business and Management, Sprint Investify, vol. 8(1), pages 1-16.
    4. Arzubiaga, Unai & Diaz-Moriana, Vanessa & Bauweraerts, Jonathan & Escobar, Octavio, 2021. "Big data in family firms: A socioemotional wealth perspective," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 344-352.
    5. Ebrahim A. A. Ghaleb & P. D. D. Dominic & Narinderjit Singh Sawaran Singh & Gehad Mohammed Ahmed Naji, 2023. "Assessing the Big Data Adoption Readiness Role in Healthcare between Technology Impact Factors and Intention to Adopt Big Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-25, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Luigi M. De Luca & Dennis Herhausen & Gabriele Troilo & Andrea Rossi, 2021. "How and when do big data investments pay off? The role of marketing affordances and service innovation," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 790-810, July.
    2. Elina H. Hwang & Param Vir Singh & Linda Argote, 2015. "Knowledge Sharing in Online Communities: Learning to Cross Geographic and Hierarchical Boundaries," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(6), pages 1593-1611, December.
    3. Patrick Mikalef & Ilias O. Pappas & John Krogstie & Michail Giannakos, 2018. "Big data analytics capabilities: a systematic literature review and research agenda," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 547-578, August.
    4. Peng Huang & Marco Ceccagnoli & Chris Forman & D.J. Wu, 2022. "IT Knowledge Spillovers, Absorptive Capacity, and Productivity: Evidence from Enterprise Software," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 33(3), pages 908-934, September.
    5. Jeanne Wilson & C. Brad Crisp & Mark Mortensen, 2013. "Extending Construal-Level Theory to Distributed Groups: Understanding the Effects of Virtuality," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(2), pages 629-644, April.
    6. Russell L. Purvis & V. Sambamurthy & Robert W. Zmud, 2001. "The Assimilation of Knowledge Platforms in Organizations: An Empirical Investigation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(2), pages 117-135, April.
    7. YoungKi Park & Paul A. Pavlou & Nilesh Saraf, 2020. "Configurations for Achieving Organizational Ambidexterity with Digitization," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 1376-1397, December.
    8. Sumita Raghuram & Dong Fang, 2014. "Telecommuting and the role of supervisory power in China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 523-547, June.
    9. Canhoto, Ana Isabel, 2021. "Leveraging machine learning in the global fight against money laundering and terrorism financing: An affordances perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 441-452.
    10. Jeffrey Cummings, 2003. "Knowledge Sharing : A Review of the Literature," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 19060.
    11. Bram Klievink & Bart-Jan Romijn & Scott Cunningham & Hans Bruijn, 2017. "Big data in the public sector: Uncertainties and readiness," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 267-283, April.
    12. Ashwin W. Joshi, 2017. "OEM implementation of supplier-developed component innovations: the role of supplier actions," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 45(4), pages 548-568, July.
    13. Ofir Turel & Catherine E. Connelly, 2012. "Team Spirit: The Influence of Psychological Collectivism on the Usage of E-Collaboration Tools," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 703-725, September.
    14. Azusa Ebisuya & Tomoki Sekiguchi & Gayan Prasad Hettiarachchi, 2023. "Narrowing the communication gap in internationally distributed teams: the case of software-development teams in Sri Lanka and Japan," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(1), pages 354-378, February.
    15. Štemberger, Mojca Indihar & Manfreda, Anton & Kovačič, Andrej, 2011. "Achieving top management support with business knowledge and role of IT/IS personnel," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 428-436.
    16. Teis Hansen, 2014. "Juggling with Proximity and Distance: Collaborative Innovation Projects in the Danish Cleantech Industry," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 90(4), pages 375-402, October.
    17. Daniel Tzabbar & Alex Vestal, 2015. "Bridging the Social Chasm in Geographically Distributed R&D Teams: The Moderating Effects of Relational Strength and Status Asymmetry on the Novelty of Team Innovation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 811-829, June.
    18. Niina Nurmi & Pamela J Hinds, 2016. "Job complexity and learning opportunities: A silver lining in the design of global virtual work," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(6), pages 631-654, August.
    19. Su, Hung-Chung & Kao, Ta-Wei (Daniel) & Linderman, Kevin, 2020. "Where in the supply chain network does ISO 9001 improve firm productivity?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 283(2), pages 530-540.
    20. Robin L. Wakefield & Dorothy E. Leidner & Gary Garrison, 2008. "Research Note ---A Model of Conflict, Leadership, and Performance in Virtual Teams," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 19(4), pages 434-455, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:scaman:v:34:y:2018:i:2:p:129-140. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/872/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.