Data ownership revisited: clarifying data accountabilities in times of big data and analytics

Abstract

Today, a myriad of data is generated via connected devices and digital applications. In order to benefit from these data, companies have to develop their capabilities related to big data and analytics (BDA). A critical factor that is often cited concerning the “soft” aspects of BDA is data ownership, i.e., clarifying the fundamental rights and responsibilities for data. IS research has investigated data ownership for operational systems and data warehouses, where the purpose of data processing is known. In the BDA context, defining accountabilities for data is more challenging because data are stored in data lakes and used for previously unknown purposes. Based on four case studies, we identify ownership principles and three distinct types: data, data platform, and data product ownership. Our research answers fundamental questions about how data management changes with BDA and lays the foundation for future research on data and analytics governance.