Think human, act digital: activating data-driven orientation in innovative start-ups

Abstract

PurposeThe study queries the drivers of innovation management in contemporary data-driven organizations/companies. It is argued that data-driven organizations that integrate a strategic orientation grounded in data, human abilities and proactive management are more effective in triggering innovation.Design/methodology/approachResearch reported in this paper employs constructivist grounded theory, Gioia methodology, and the abductive approach. The data collected through semi-structured interviews administered to 20 Italian start-up founders are then examined.FindingsThe paper identifies the key enablers of innovation development in data-driven companies and reveals that data-driven companies may generate different innovation patterns depending on the kind of capabilities activated.Originality/valueThe study provides evidence of how the combination of data-driven culture, skills' enhancement and the promotion of human resources may boost the emergence of innovation.

How the digital transformation from COVID-19 affected the relational approaches in B2B

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Configurational path of successful entrepreneurship based on open government data: a QCA analysis

“…Research shows that most of the limited beneficiaries of OGD are companies or software developers with sufficient funds and expertise, and the lack of relevant skills among public users limits the further use of open data (Gascó-Hernández et al , 2018; Styrin et al , 2017). Visvizi et al (2022) also revealed that the mere usage of OGD is insufficient to ensure innovation; instead, integrating digital and human with the adoption of a data-driven mindset could promote innovation effectively. Third, the construction of the data market is not mature enough to build a big data industry chain (Bonina and Eaton, 2020).…”

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“…The studies included in the Special Issue reveal the main strategic drivers and tools required to reframe OI models through data-driven orientation to enhance the constant adaptation of businesses and institutions to the complex and unstable context of global crisis. Moreover, the key implications of data-driven approach on distributed and collaborative decision-making are analyzed to show public managers how governance mechanisms can be harmonized through the combination of technology (process), dynamic capabilities and human competencies (people) for the attainment of sustainable growth (Visvizi et al , 2021).…”