Identifying industrial clusters with a novel big-data methodology : are SIC codes (not) fit for purpose in the Internet age?
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Computers and Operations Research
Publication Date
6-2017
Volume
Advance online publication
First Page
1
Last Page
12
Publisher
Pergamon Press
Keywords
Industry classification, SIC codes, Big data analytics, Clusters, Operations, Strategic co-operation, Regional policy, North East of England
Abstract
In this paper we propose using a novel big-data-mining methodology and the Internet as a new source of useful meta-data for industry classification. The proposed methodology can be utilised as a decision support system for identifying industrial clusters in almost real time in a specific geographic region, contributing to strategic co-operation and policy development for operations and supply chain management across organisational boundaries through big data analytics. Our theoretical discussion on discerning industrial activity of firms in geographical regions starts by highlighting the limitations of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes. This discussion is followed by the proposed methodology, which has three main steps revolving around web-based data collection, pre-processing and analysis, and reporting of clusters. We discuss each step in detail, presenting the experimental approaches tested. We apply our methodology to a regional case, in the North East of England, in order to demonstrate how such a big data decision support system/analytics can work in practice. Implications for theory, policy and practice are discussed, as well as potential avenues for further research.
DOI
10.1016/j.cor.2017.06.010
Print ISSN
03050548
E-ISSN
1873765X
Funding Information
The work described in this paper was partially supported by a grant from the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China (Project No. G-UA4J). {G-UA4J}
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Papagiannidis, S., See-To, E. W. K., Assimakopoulos, D. G., & Yang, Y. (2017). Identifying industrial clusters with a novel big-data methodology: Are SIC codes (not) fit for purpose in the Internet age? Computers and Operations Research. Advance online publication, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.cor.2017.06.010