How to turn managers into data-driven decision makers

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Daniel André Carillo ◽  
Nadine Galy ◽  
Cameron Guthrie ◽  
Anne Vanhems
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Instrument ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Business Analytics ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Attitudes Toward Statistics ◽  
Attitude Toward Business ◽  
Professional Contexts ◽  
The Way

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need to engender a positive attitude toward business analytics in order for firms to more effectively transform into data-driven businesses, and for business schools to better prepare future managers. Design/methodology/approach This paper develops and validates a measurement instrument that captures the attitude toward business statistics, the foundation of business analytics. A multi-stage approach is implemented and the validation is conducted with a sample of 311 students from a business school. Findings The instrument has strong psychometric properties. It is designed so that it can be easily extrapolated to professional contexts and extended to the entire domain of business analytics. Research limitations/implications As the advent of a data-driven business world will impact the way organizations function and the way individuals think, work, communicate and interact, it is crucial to engage a transdisciplinary dialogue among domains that have the expertise to help train and transform current and future professionals. Practical implications The contribution provides educators and organizations with a means to measure and monitor attitudes toward statistics, the most anxiogenic component of business analytics. This is a first step in monitoring and developing an analytics mindset in both managers and students. Originality/value By demonstrating how the advent of the data-driven business era is transforming the DNA and functioning of organizations, this paper highlights the key importance of changing managers’ and all employees’ (to a lesser extent) mindset and way of thinking.

Engaging with stakeholders is critical when leading change

2014 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Mayfield
Keyword(s):  
Good Governance ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Leading Change ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Computer Tools ◽  
Barriers To Change ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Way

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate what would happen if we were to ignore relationships when leading change. Many believe that project management, change management, and related fields, are a matter of marshalling stuff: working the right processes and tasks, writing the correct documents, having good governance mechanisms in place, etc. People just distract and get in the way. Some tend to concentrate on these technicalities working their computer tools, rather than leaning towards people. The result is huge waste. Organisational change will always cut across different business functions, boundaries and across silos of working. This is where stakeholder engagement leads to successful outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – It is a surprise to many, but listening is probably the most powerful influencing strategy of all. The key is to ask the person you seek to influence, first for their thoughts, fears, and aspirations. If you can show you are genuinely interested, you begin to break down any barriers to change. This helps focus on the need for change rather than present the solution first. Yes, time is money, but often we can let this get in the way of engaging successfully. Conversations like this do take time. It feels counter-intuitive. Findings – There is growing evidence that people who make better leaders have a leaning towards action, they are never victims of “paralysis by analysis”. The self-aware, pro-active manager leading change understands that relationships are central to success and are thinking about their relationships in a real and active way. They think about their mental landscape and on that landscape they see the vital importance of stakeholders and are prepared to spend a far higher proportion of their discretionary time devoted to engaging with other people, quite apart from the structured meetings and emails that we usually describe as “communicating”. Originality/value – Most management books are written with the assumption that the business world is rational, but when it comes to change, it appears this is far from the case. We are taught to put a reasonable proposition to people, the business case, the plan, and so on, then expect people to mull it over for a while, then jump into action – reason – analyse – act. But nearly always the actual sequence is – see – feel – act. There is little doubt that people engage with their stakeholders better if there is some kind of emotional connection.

Open data driven public accountability

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Pedro Lourenço ◽  
Suzanne Piotrowski ◽  
Alex Ingrams
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Development ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Open Data ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Open Government ◽  
Public Accountability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Open Government Data ◽  
Government Data

Purpose This paper aims to analyse extant literature on open data, distinguish and categorize the strands of public accountability research and use the results to provide better clarity in the concept of open data-driven public accountability. Design/methodology/approach Systematic review of 135 open data articles and 155 accountability articles from the e-government reference library. A multi-stage analysis results in 12 articles which are categorized using Bovens’ (2007) accountability theory of information, discussion and consequences. Conceptual development, using the literature analysis, forms the final section of the paper. Findings Research demonstrates that a range of open data topics has been advanced. However, just 12 articles exist that simultaneously address open data and accountability theory. Of the total 155 public accountability articles, the preponderant focus is on the information (N = 25) and discussion (N = 7) stages of the accountability process. Just one article focuses on the complete accountability process. To address this problem, the characterization of open (government) data-driven public accountability establishes conceptual crispness and clarity. Originality/value Public accountability theory on open government has become overshadowed by social and economic value perspectives. This paper clarifies and advances the open data-driven public accountability perspective. It takes stock of public accountability research, delimits the key issues and questions and highlights the next steps needed for developing scholarship.

Storytelling, business analytics and big data interpretation

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeriia Boldosova ◽  
Severi Luoto
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Complex Data ◽  
Business Analytics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Business Practitioners ◽  
Data Driven Decisions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of storytelling in data interpretation, decision-making and individual-level adoption of business analytics (BA). Design/methodology/approach Existing theory is extended by introducing the concept of BA data-driven storytelling and by synthesizing insights from BA, storytelling, behavioral research, linguistics, psychology and neuroscience. Using theory-building methodology, a model with propositions is introduced to demonstrate the relationship between storytelling, data interpretation quality, decision-making quality, intention to use BA and actual BA use. Findings BA data-driven storytelling is a narrative sensemaking heuristic positively influencing human behavior towards BA use. Organizations deliberately disseminating BA data-driven stories can improve the quality of individual data interpretation and decision-making, resulting in increased individual utilization of BA on a daily basis. Research limitations/implications To acquire a deeper understanding of BA data-driven storytelling in behavioral operational research (BOR), future studies should test the theoretical model of this study and focus on exploring the complexity and diversity in individual attitudes toward BA. Practical implications This study provides practical guidance for business practitioners who struggle with interpreting vast amounts of complex data, making data-driven decisions and incorporating BA into daily operations. Originality/value This cross-disciplinary study develops existing BOR, storytelling and BA literature by showing how a novel BA data-driven storytelling approach can facilitate BA adoption in organizations.

scholarly journals How do top- and bottom-performing companies differ in using business analytics?

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 874-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangming Cao ◽  
Yanqing Duan
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Business Analytics ◽  
Analytical Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Data Driven Decisions ◽  
Effective Use

Purpose Business analytics (BA) has attracted growing attention mainly due to the phenomena of big data. While studies suggest that BA positively affects organizational performance, there is a lack of academic research. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to examine the extent to which top- and bottom-performing companies differ regarding their use and organizational facilitation of BA. Design/methodology/approach Hypotheses are developed drawing on the information processing view and contingency theory, and tested using multivariate analysis of variance to analyze data collected from 117 UK manufacture companies. Findings Top- and bottom-performing companies differ significantly in their use of BA, data-driven environment, and level of fit between BA and data-drain environment. Practical implications Extensive use of BA and data-driven decisions will lead to superior firm performance. Companies wishing to use BA to improve decision making and performance need to develop relevant analytical strategy to guide BA activities and design its structure and business processes to embed BA activities. Originality/value This study provides useful management insights into the effective use of BA for improving organizational performance.

Is corporate real estate at a crossroads?

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Harris ◽  
Howard Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Real Estate ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Business World ◽  
Workplace Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Real Estate ◽  
The Uk ◽  
New Research ◽  
The Way

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the way that corporate real estate (CRE) has developed in the UK since the early 1990s. Design/methodology/approach – Review of how various professional bodies, occupiers and landlords have responded to the changing business and workplace environment. Findings – CRE managers and the professional bodies that represent them are at a crossroads. Whilst the business world has evolved since 1990, the CRE sector has not and faces the prospect becoming purely a technical rather than a strategic subject. Originality/value – A review of what has happened and not new research.

The potential beyond IC 4.0: the evolution of business intelligence towards advanced business analytics

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 396-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milla Ratia ◽  
Jussi Myllärniemi ◽  
Nina Helander
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Business Intelligence ◽  
Health Care Sector ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Business Analytics ◽  
Private Health Care ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
New Business

Purpose The private health care sector is seeking to improve their understanding of business processes to be able to improve their performance. The purpose of this paper is to understand the future needs of the private health care sector organizations in terms of business intelligence (BI) and business analytics (BA) to ensure value creation. Design/methodology/approach The four evolution stages of intellectual capital enriched by managerial data-driven approach are used as a framework to point out the future of BI or BA in the private healthcare sector. The research includes private health care organizations, BI vendors and management consultants in Finland. Findings Based on the findings, the private health care is stepping towards a new phase of data-driven decision-making, requiring to change the whole set of mind towards use of data and required capabilities. Moreover, it shows that the future factors of BI varied from practical tools and methods such as predictive and prescriptive analytics along with AI, to more conceptual factors such as social BI co-creation and platforms. Practical implications As an outcome, this study provides an understanding of the role of IC components in the future BI and use of BA as well as provides a valuable insight into the future potential of BI in the private health care sector. Originality/value Data-driven decision-making and seeking for new business opportunities are currently one of the most discussed topics in the private health care sector. By identifying the future opportunities of BI and BA, this study provides a better understanding of the role of IC components and BI in creating potential for new business for private health care.

The impact of business analytics capability on data-driven culture and exploration: achieving a competitive advantage

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Najah Almazmomi ◽  
Aboobucker Ilmudeen ◽  
Alaa A. Qaffas
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
New Product ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Business Analytics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Analytics Capability

PurposeIn today's business setting, the business analytic capability, data-driven culture and product development features are highly pronounced in light of the firm's competitive advantage. Though widespread attention has been given to the above concepts, there hasn't been much research done on how it could support achieving competitive advantage.Design/methodology/approachThis research strongly lies on the theoretical background and empirically tests the hypothesized relationships. The primary survey of 272 responses was analysed by using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe findings of this study show a significant relationship for the constructs in the research model except for the third hypothesis. Accordingly, the firm's data-driven culture does not have a significant impact on new product newness.Originality/valueThis study empirically tests the business analytics capability, data-driven culture, and new product development features in the context of a firm's competitive advantage. The findings of this study contribute to the theoretical, practical and managerial aspects of this field.

Let’s stop trying to be “sexy” – preparing managers for the (big) data-driven business era

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 598-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Daniel André Carillo
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Business Education ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Data Science ◽  
Business Schools ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Educational Challenges

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the inadequacies of current business education in the tackling of the educational challenges inherent to the advent of a data-driven business world. It presents an analysis of the implications of digitization and more specifically big data analytics (BDA) and data science (DS) on organizations with a special emphasis on decision-making processes and the function of managers. It argues that business schools and other educational institutions have well responded to the need to train future data scientists but have rather disregarded the question of effectively preparing future managers for the new data-driven business era. Design/methodology/approach The approach involves analysis and review of the literature. Findings The development of analytics skills shall not pertain to data scientists only, it must rather become an organizational cultural component shared among all employees and more specifically among decision makers: managers. In the data-driven business era, managers turn into manager-scientists who shall possess skills at the crossroad of data management, analytical/modeling techniques and tools, and business. However, the multidisciplinary nature of big data analytics and data science (BDADS) seems to collide with the dominant “functional silo design” that characterizes business schools. The scope and breadth of the radical digitally enabled change, the author are facing, may necessitate a global questioning about the nature and structure of business education. Research limitations/implications For the sake of transparency and clarity, academia and the industry must join forces to standardize the meaning of the terms surrounding big data. BDA/DS training programs, courses, and curricula shall be organized in such a way that students shall interact with an array of specialists providing them a broad enough picture of the big data landscape. The multidisciplinary nature of analytics and DS necessitates to revisit pedagogical models by developing experiential learning and implementing a spiral-shaped pedagogical approach. The attention of scholars is needed as there exists an array of unexplored research territories. This investigation will help bridge the gap between education and the industry. Practical implications The findings will help practitioners understand the educational challenges triggered by the advent of the data-driven business era. The implications will also help develop effective trainings and pedagogical strategies that are better suited to prepare future professionals for the new data-driven business world. Originality/value By demonstrating how the advent of a data-driven business era is impacting the function and role of managers, the paper initiates a debate revolving around the question about how business schools and higher education shall evolve to better tackle the educational challenges associated with BDADS training. Elements of response and recommendations are then provided.

Co-workers’ perceptions of and reactions to employee’s involuntary demotion

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 740-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Hennekam ◽  
Subramaniam Ananthram ◽  
Steve McKenna
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Emotional Reaction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Informational Justice ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Behavioural Reaction ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
The Way

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how individuals perceive and react to the involuntary demotion of a co-worker in their organisation. Design/methodology/approach The authors draw on 46 semi-structured in-depth interviews (23 dyads) with co-workers of demoted individuals. Findings The findings suggest that an individual’s observation of the demotion of a co-worker has three stages: their perception of fairness, their emotional reaction and their behavioural reaction. The perception of fairness concerned issues of distributive, procedural, interpersonal and informational justice. The emotional responses identified were feelings of disappointment/disillusion, uncertainty, vulnerability and anger. Finally, the behavioural reactions triggered by their emotional responses included expressions of voice, loyalty, exit and adaptation. Originality/value Perceptions of (in)justice perpetrated on others stimulate emotional and behavioural responses, which impacts organisational functioning. Managers should therefore pay attention to the way a demotion is perceived, not only by those directly concerned, but also by co-workers as observers.

How Phillips saw the light

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 29-31
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Freak Show ◽  
The World ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
The One ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings The problem with developing a reputation of being something of an oracle in the business world is that all of a sudden, everyone expects you to pull off the trick of interpreting the future on a daily basis. Like a freak show circus act or one-hit wonder pop singer, people expect you to perform when they see you, and they expect you to perform the thing that made you famous, even if it is the one thing in the world you don’t want to do. And when you fail to deliver on these heightened expectations, you are dismissed as a one trick pony, however good that trick is in the first place. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document