Challenges to the Organisational Adoption of Big Data Analytics

Findings revealed technological challenges to the adoption of BDA as being Data Integration; Data Privacy; Return on Investment; Data Quality; Cost; Data Integrity; and Performance and Scalability.

Abstract

The purpose of this interpretive study was to explore the challenges to the adoption of Big Data Analytics (BDA) in organisations. The Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) model was used to guide the study. Data was collected from a large telecommunication organization in South Africa. Seven participants, from both Information Technology (IT) and business were interviewed to gain a holistic overview of challenges towards the adoption of BDA. An inductive approach was used for analysis. Findings revealed technological challenges to the adoption of BDA as being Data Integration; Data Privacy; Return on Investment; Data Quality; Cost; Data Integrity; and Performance and Scalability. From the organizational perspective, the major challenges were Ownership and Control; Skills Shortages; Business Focus and Prioritisation; Training and Exposure; Silos; and Unclear Processes. From the environmental context there were no major challenges highlighted. Organisational challenges were deemed to be the major inhibitors to adoption of BDA