Determinants of the adoption of big data analytics in business consulting service: a survey of multinational and indigenous consulting firms

This study investigates the factors affecting the adoption of big data analytics (BDA) by business consulting firms. With the aid of a structured questionnaire, survey data was obtained from one hundred and eighteen (118) business and management consultants working in multinational and indigenous consulting firms in Nigeria. Discriminant analysis and multinomial logistic regression were applied to assess the determinants of BDA adoption, while structural equation modelling (path analysis) was used to assess the complexity of the interrelationship among the determinants. Robustness check using least square regression, correlation, covariance (Cov) and sum of squares and cross-products (SSCPs) analysis confirms that results are valid. Whilst the desire to enhance competitive position will cause incremental improvement in BDA adoption, consulting firms are likely to intensify BDA usage because of the need to increase market share. The determinants of BDA adoption are interrelated, implying that the advantages of BDA are systemic and could yield synergistic benefits.