Big Data Investment, Skills, and Firm Value

Because this type of data analysis has, in many cases, outpaced existing technological capabilities, interest is growing in the potential economic impact of big data technology investments—as well as challenges that may prevent implementation. One particular challenge for enterprises is the difficulty of acquiring the technical skills required to support big-data tools. A 2012 report1 about Sears’ early adoption of Hadoop, for instance, noted that as demand for big data technologies grows, so do the problems of finding sufficient skills. Questions have been raised about whether talent shortages could limit the rate of productivity growth.