Challenges Affecting Adoption of Big Data Analytics in Telecommunication Firms in Kenya

Abstract

Big data analytics is a crucial concept that has made companies to obtain an edge by collecting and making sense of data in regard to their customers, products as well as other critical details. These companies generate so much information and data that if well analysed would provide a strategic direction and the company will be in position to understand its critical role in the market. Information is vital for upholding strategies and trading becomes more impactful with the right market information. It is therefore in the interest of companies as well as corporations to ensure that they invest adequately and improve their technological capacities and competence in making sense of data they collect. The study therefore undertook to determine the challenges that affect adoption of big data analytics in Telecommunication firms in Kenya. The study therefore undertook a descriptive research design, as well as a correlational design to correlate the challenges with adoption of BDA. The study relied on primary data where data was collected from managers in these firms. Structured questionnaires were sent to the study respondents and both correlational analysis together with regression analysis were undertaken by the study. The study findings were very relevant and quite informative in relation to the study. The challenges that influence adoption of data analytics in Telecommunication firms in Kenya insinuates that Technological challenges, data challenges, managerial challenges and process challenges are critical factors in influencing adoption of BDA. The respondents pointed those technological challenges such as hardware and software were issues of concern as they indicated that respective firms had inadequate hardware and software that could not suffice in adoption of BDA. Similarly, internet connectivity was not well enhanced and was a factor that contributed to technological challenges. With enhanced and a more emphasis on technological challenges faced by Telecommunication firms in Kenya, then there would be increased use and adoption of BDA. The correlation of adoption of BDA with technological challenges was significant and very strong at 0.736 and therefore indicating that it is a real and vital challenge that ought to be addressed. Priority should therefore be enhanced on addressing technological challenges to enhance adoption of BDA. Data challenges were also found to have significant correlation with adoption of big data analytics at Pearson’s rho of 0.558. Managerial challenges were also found to be very critical in enhancing adoption of BDA. The correlational analysis of the study was found to be significant, but it was relatively weak at 0.314. It therefore denotes that despite the fact that having competent managers as well as managers who are willing to inculcate BDA into the culture of the firm, the firms have performed well in addressing this challenge. The study found that process challenges were significant and affected adoption of BDA. The correlation analysis had a Pearson’s rho of 0.539 which was significant. The study recommends that Telecommunication firms should invest more in infrastructure and data security and privacy. The government should make laws for enhancing private data handling and privacy issues to be upheld.