Strategic Value Creation through Big Data Analytics Capabilities: A Configurational Approach

Abstract

Despite the documented potential of Big Data Analytics Capabilities (BDAC), it is by no means clear how they support the capacity of firms to purposefully create, extend, or modify their resource bases, i.e., dynamic capabilities (DC). This study extends current literature by exploring and elucidating various contingent big data capabilities, resources, and conditions that lead to the formation of these DCs in today's turbulent business environment. We use a qualitative approach using a cross-interview study method. Hence, we collected data through semi-structured interviews with field domain experts. In total, 27 interviews were held with key and senior informants from different firms. Co-authors analyzed the obtained data through the use of qualitative coding techniques. Our results show that there are various contingent BDAC resource solutions that drive, moderate, and condition the development of DCs. These outcomes also show that no single antecedent condition explains DCs in practice. These insights are important for firms that are becoming more data-driven. Outcomes are valuable for practice as firm executives now have insight into the process and main BDA capabilities they can focus on while planning, initiating, and evolving big data analytics projects and their digital business strategies.