Improving Decision Making Through the Use of BI&A and a Data-Driven Culture
Abstract
Background and problem: Today, businesses act in an increasingly complex environment,
that requires organizations to be more adaptive. This increases the value of data analytics and
decision support systems such as Business Intelligence & Analytics (BI&A) for decision
makers and enables them to make better and quicker decisions. At the same time, there is a
lack of understanding of the data-driven cultures that support the use of BI&A and BI&A in
relation to the decision process itself.
Research aim: To expand the understanding of organizational decision making under the
presence of BI&A.
Research questions: “How can a data-driven culture support the use of Business Intelligence
& Analytics?” and “How does the use of Business Intelligence & Analytics, facilitated by a
data-driven culture, support the decision process?”.
Research design: The research questions were studied using an exploratory approach with
semi-structured interviews. Three Swedish organizations active in the logistics sector were
interviewed as well as an external BI consultant. Through this approach, detailed information
on how BI&A and data-driven cultures affect decision making were collected from the
different organizations and was complemented with general knowledge on the topic from the
BI consultant.
Discussion and conclusion: The findings suggest that the influence of BI&A supports
decision making, whereas the extent and type of support depend on the organisational level of
the decision. Further, the findings highlight the importance of a data-driven culture, which
supports the use of BI&A by facilitating data-driven decision making. Similar to prior
research, a data-driven culture is found to be built on a set of enabling factors, although some
new aspects are identified.
Degree
Student essay
View/ Open
Date
2020-07-08Author
Öberg, Fredrik
Öhman, Gustav
Keywords
Decision Making, Data-Driven Decision Making, Data-Driven Cultures, Data- Driven Organisations, Management Accounting, BI&A, BI, Business Intelligence
Series/Report no.
Ekonomistyrning
2020-4
Language
eng