Disruption and Legitimacy: Big Data in Society

Area of Science:

• Business and Management
• Sociology of Technology

Background:

• The proliferation of data and business analytics fosters innovative business models.
• Disruptive business models, particularly those leveraging Big Data, often face societal scrutiny and legitimacy challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the tensions between Big Data companies and society through the concept of legitimacy.
• To understand how digital transformations necessitate balancing disruption with social norm conformity.

Main Methods:

• The study employed an instrumental case study approach.
• Analysis focused on four cases where Big Data organizations encountered legitimacy challenges.

Main Results:

• Big Data businesses experience a dynamic tension between the benefits and costs of disruptive models.
• Companies must strategically manage the degree of disruption versus conformity to social norms and values.
• Legitimacy management is a critical factor for navigating these challenges.

Conclusions:

• Effective legitimacy management is essential for Big Data companies to thrive.
• Understanding and adapting to societal expectations is key for sustainable innovation.
• Digital transformations require a nuanced approach to business model disruption.