Using or not using business ıntelligence and big data for strategic management: An empirical study based on interviews with executives in various sectors

Abstract

Information Technology being an inevitable part of our lives changes the way of doing business every five or eight years. This known as technological cycle. The technology we use today becomes obsolete in several years’ time and managers have to adapt themselves to new systems and new management styles. When big data is so big and important, its usage for business planning and decision making is getting more crucial as well. Business Intelligence tools or Executive Information Systems are improving their ability with the help of the Big Data available. Executives may use the merits of new systems when they make their decisions easily and more accurately as subordinates do when they use computers for daily business operations. Today’s software systems can help the top management with making long term business decisions as much as they can with tactical and operational activities. However, it is difficult to say that those tools are being used by the top managements as they should be. Executives avoid using them for different purposes. They may not refuse them but might simply think it is not the right time to depend on such a system when they make business plans. In this study ten interviews have been conducted with the top executives of the firms which are doing business in various sectors. The executives talked about how or how much they use Executive Information Systems when they make decisions. The findings of the study partly cover expectations or anticipations of the authors.