Building sense-making dynamic capability through data science: A framework for strategic decision making

Abstract

Leaders have a duty to make decisions that advance the course of their organisations. Cognitive limitations emanating from human bounded rationality, as well as complex external environments, place a limit on a leader’s ability to make quality decisions. This problem becomes pronounced when leaders have to make strategic decisions; which are often irreversible and commit scarce organisational resources. There is, therefore creates a pressing need for organisations to develop capabilities that can aid leaders and their organisation discern their complex environment and improve decision making. This research was an inquiry into the development of dynamic capabilities that would aid sense-making, and decision making. The focal point for this inquiry was the role of Data science in enabling the creation of sense-making capabilities. The study deployed an inductive qualitative methodology suitable for exploring the link between data science-enabled dynamic capabilities, and strategic decision making, as an emerging area of work. Part of this exploration involved reviewing existing literature from both business and academic sources. Data collection from participants ensured the infusion of domain knowledge into this study as augmented by academic literature in order to improve the reliability of the findings.