A strategic approach of value identification for a big data project

Abstract

The disruptive nature of innovations and technological advancements present potentially huge benefits, however, it is critical to take caution because they also come with challenges. This author holds fast to the school of thought which suggests that every organisation or society should properly evaluate innovations and their attendant challenges from a strategic perspective, before adopting them, or else could get blindsided by the after effects. Big Data is one of such innovations, currently trending within industry and academia. The instinctive nature of Organizations compels them to constantly find new ways to stay ahead of the competition. It is for this reason, that some incoherencies exist in the field of big data. While on the one hand, we have some Organizations rushing into implementing Big Data Projects, we also have in possibly equal measure, many other organisations that remain sceptical and uncertain of the benefits of “Big Data” in general and are also concerned with the implementation costs. What this has done is, create a huge focus on the area of Big Data Implementation. Literature reveals a good number of challenges around Big Data project implementations. For example, most Big Data projects are either abandoned or do not hit their expected target. Unfortunately, most IS literature has focused on implementation methodologies that are primarily focused on the data, resources, Big Data infrastructures, algorithms etc. Rather than leaving the incoherent space that exists to remain, this research seeks to collapse the space and open opportunities to harness and expand knowledge. Consequently, the research takes a slightly different standpoint by approaching Big Data implementation from a Strategic Perspective. The author emphasises the fact that focus should be shifted from going straight into implementing Big Data projects to first implementing a Big Data Strategy for the Organization. Before implementation, this strategy step will create the value proposition and identify deliverables to justify the project. To this end, the researcher combines an Alignment theory, with Digital Business Strategy theory to create a Big Data Strategy Framework that Organisations could use to align their business strategy with the Big Data project. The Framework was tested in two case studies, and the study resulted in the generation of the strategic Big Data Goals for both case studies. This Big Data Strategy framework aided the organisation in identifying the potential value that could be obtained from their Big Data project. These Strategic Big Data Goals can now be implemented in Big data Projects.