Big data analytics and lean practices: impact on sustainability performance

Abstract

Academics and practitioners have identified the potential of Big Data Analytics capability (BDAC) and Lean Social-Technical system to improve sustainability performance. Nonetheless, there is still a limited understanding of how companies’ BDAC efforts can contribute to Lean Practices and transform this relationship into sustainability-related benefits, impacting economic, social, and environmental performance. A comprehensive conceptual model to assess the mediating effect of Lean Social Practices (LSP) and Lean Technical Practices (LTP) on the relationship between BDAC and economic, social, and environmental performance was developed and tested with a sample of 108 respondents, from Brazilian industrial companies. The results obtained using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), showed that the relationship between BDAC and economic performance is completely mediated by LTP. However, LSP does not mediate the relationships between BDAC and sustainability performance. The findings provide guidance to companies regarding resource allocations for BDAC and Lean to foster sustainability.