TY - JOUR
T1 - Unstructured data research in business
T2 - Toward a structured approach
AU - de Haan, Evert
AU - Padigar, Manjunath
AU - El Kihal, Siham
AU - Kübler, Raoul
AU - Wieringa, Jaap E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s)
PY - 2024/4
Y1 - 2024/4
N2 - Despite the unprecedented growth in both the volume of unstructured data (UD) and the associated methodological sophistication, there is a growing managerial need for a structured view of how to select data sources and methods given a specific use case or scenario. Handling UD is typically resource intensive, requires many steps, and involves high uncertainty, but UD can contain rich information not found in structured data. Recognizing the gap in clear guidelines for leveraging UD in managerial decision-making, we develop a systematic three-step approach: (1) problem identification, (2) solutions development, and (3) problem resolution. Building on organizational learning theory, we propose a solutions development framework with four conceptually distinct uses of UD based on two dimensions: organizational learning goals (exploration and exploitation) and environmental scanning scope (internal and external data sources). Finally, we discuss implications for practitioners and outline key focus areas for future research directions.
AB - Despite the unprecedented growth in both the volume of unstructured data (UD) and the associated methodological sophistication, there is a growing managerial need for a structured view of how to select data sources and methods given a specific use case or scenario. Handling UD is typically resource intensive, requires many steps, and involves high uncertainty, but UD can contain rich information not found in structured data. Recognizing the gap in clear guidelines for leveraging UD in managerial decision-making, we develop a systematic three-step approach: (1) problem identification, (2) solutions development, and (3) problem resolution. Building on organizational learning theory, we propose a solutions development framework with four conceptually distinct uses of UD based on two dimensions: organizational learning goals (exploration and exploitation) and environmental scanning scope (internal and external data sources). Finally, we discuss implications for practitioners and outline key focus areas for future research directions.
KW - Organizational learning theory
KW - Strategic framework
KW - Unstructured data
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85189905782&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114655
DO - 10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114655
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85189905782
SN - 0148-2963
VL - 177
JO - Journal of Business Research
JF - Journal of Business Research
M1 - 114655
ER -