AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF EMPLOYEE PERCEPTIONS OF BIG DATA ANALYTICAL COMPETENCY AMONG LEADERS AND ITS IMPACTS ON DECISION- MAKING QUALITY

Abstract

The requirement for leaders to have strong abilities in data analysis has increased due to the growing integration of big data analytics in corporate decision-making. This study explores the leaders' and data scientists' perceptions of data analytical competency among leaders and its relationship to the quality of decision-making in enterprises with a particular emphasis on quickly changing technology environments around the globe. Leaders are concentrating more on using big data to improve the ability of their firms to make decisions (Dahiya, 2021). The true value of big data lies in its effective utilization, requiring leaders to orchestrate multiple resources, thereby fostering dynamic capabilities and enhancing the company's capacity for big data decision-making. I conducted a qualitative study that involved interviews with leaders and data scientists. To investigate the perspectives of data scientists and leaders, three study questions were created regarding their respective roles and responsibilities, as well as the importance of collaboration, data literacy, and adapting to new technology. The data were collected from interviews with 10 Saudi participants, including 4 leaders and 6 data scientists from different big data organizations. Preliminary findings suggest that both leaders and data scientists perceive the importance of having analytical competencies, and they agree that leaders should focus on hiring experts to provide them with data-driven insights to inform their decision making as the ability to lead their organizations within the context of a data analytic environment. Both leaders and data scientists perceive it is important for data scientists to analyze incoming data regularly and to gain knowledge of the mission and vision of the organization.