Improving Decision-Making Using Big Data for Sustainable Development: A Systematic Literature Review
TL;DR
The study shows that the integration of big data is not limited to business growth but also contributes to sustainable development and future research should focus on integrating AI into analytical D-M processes and exploring mechanisms for improving real-time D-M.
Abstract
The rapid evolution of new technologies has revolutionized management practices in organizations. Decision-making, once based on traditional methods such as intuition and experience, has shifted towards more modern methods grounded in big data analytics (BDA). This study is part of a systematic review of research. By consolidating recent literature, particularly from 2021 to 2025, the study aims to highlight the strategic role played by big data (BD) and BDA in decision-making (D-M) and business performance. Following a meticulous methodological search, articles were extracted from three databases: Google Scholar, DOAJ, Scopus and Web of Science. Applying the PRISMA 2020 methodology yielded 35 articles based on exclusion and inclusion criteria. Reviewing the selected articles highlighted the importance of Big Data-driven D-M across six domains: finance, accounting, supply chain, marketing, human resources, and the environment. The study shows that the integration of big data is not limited to business growth but also contributes to sustainable development. The results demonstrate the undeniable advantage of D-M and improving organizational performance. However, addressing challenges such as cultural and ethical barriers, data privacy and security, algorithmic bias, infrastructure complexity, and resource constraints would lead to the effective and efficient use of this tool. Furthermore, future research should focus on integrating AI into analytical D-M processes and exploring mechanisms for improving real-time D-M.