Interrelationship between big data and knowledge management : an exploratory study in the oil and gas sector

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Journal of Knowledge Management

Publication Date

2017

Volume

21

Issue

1

First Page

180

Last Page

196

Publisher

Emerald Publishing Limited

Keywords

Big data, Oil and gas, Knowledge management

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between big data and knowledge management (KM).

Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a qualitative research methodology and a case study approach was followed by conducting nine semi-structured interviews with open-ended and probing questions.

Findings: Useful predictive knowledge can be generated through big data to help companies improve their KM capability and make effective decisions. Moreover, combination of tacit knowledge of relevant staff with explicit knowledge obtained from big data improvises the decision-making ability.

Research limitations/implications: The focus of the study was on oil and gas sector, and, thus, the research results may lack generalizability.

Originality/value: This paper fulfills an identified need of exploring the relationship between big data and KM which has not been discussed much in the literature.

DOI

10.1108/JKM-07-2016-0262

Print ISSN

13673270

E-ISSN

17587484

Funding Information

The work presented in this study was conducted at Knowledge Management Innovation and Research Center (KMIRC), Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Research work under project code 1-904Z supported by the research office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. {1-904Z}

Publisher Statement

Copyright © Emerald Publishing Limited 2017

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Additional Information

The work presented in this study was conducted at Knowledge Management Innovation and Research Center (KMIRC), Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Sumbal, M. S., Tsui, E., & See-To, E. W. K. (2017). Interrelationship between big data and knowledge management: An exploratory study in the oil and gas sector. Journal of Knowledge Management, 21(1), 180-196. doi: 10.1108/JKM-07-2016-0262

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