Human-related capabilities in big data analytics: a taxonomy of human factors with impact on firm performance

This study intends to provide scholars and practitioners with an understanding of human resource challenges in the context of Big Data Analytics (BDA). This paper provides a holistic framework of human-related capabilities that organizations must consider when implementing BDA to facilitate decision-making. For this purpose, the authors conducted a systematic literature review adapted from Tranfield et al. (BJM 14:207–222, 2003) to identify relevant studies. The 75 publications reviewed provided the sample for an inductive, and systematic data evaluation following the well-known and accepted approach introduced by Gioia et al. (ORM 16:15–31, 2012). The comprehensive review uncovered 33 first-order concepts linked to human-related capabilities, which were distilled into 15 s-order themes and then merged into five aggregated dimensions: Personnel Capability, Management Capability, Organizational Capability, Culture and Governance Capability, and Strategy and Planning Capability. The study is, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the first to categorize all relevant human-related capabilities for successful BDA application. As such, it not only provides the scientific basis for further research, but also serves as a useful overview of the critical factors for BDA use in decision-making processes.