Big data creating new knowledge as support in decision-making: practical examples of big data use and consequences of using big data as decision support

Abstract

ABSTRACTDecision-making in organisations faces a change due to the increasing amount of data offering new possibilities in information management and decision-making, or what is called ‘big data’. Despite the interest in big data, little is yet known about the outcome of the practical use of big data in organisations and a wider discussion of its implications is encouraged. This article contributes with examples of how big data is used in practice in the public sector, visualised with a case from the local government context, and how practitioners view big data and the changes in information and knowledge management following with it. Big data is discussed in the theoretical light of organisational knowledge creation and decision-making in organisations. The findings suggest that creating new information and knowledge out of big data, and its use as support for decision-making in organisations, would enhance the quality and increase trustworthiness in decision-making.