Big Data and Innovation: The State of the Art and Future Research Directions

Companies are increasingly aware of the benefits that can come from using big data. Of the various ways firms can make use of big data, in our research we have focused specifically on its use for innovation. As there are still many aspects that need to be clarified in this respect, our study addresses the following research question: how can big data be leveraged for innovation? Through a systematic literature review, we have inductively shown that three aspects emerge as critical in dealing with big data and innovation: (i) big data conceptualization; (ii) big data outcomes; and (iii) contingency factors. Around these aspects, we have mapped the current state of the art on big data and innovation, as well as highlighting interesting future research directions. On the whole, we have sought to advance scientific knowledge and provide useful insights for managers and research centers regarding the best way to leverage big data and innovation.