Research published in the International Journal of Business Information Systems presents a sector framework that helps telecommunications companies assess how effectively they use large volumes of data. The study addresses limitations of existing models, which were generally designed for organisations in other industries.
The research, which involved the participation of 50 experts from academic and industrial fields, refined and tested a data management maturity model that reveals how an organisation can manage, analyse and use information. The framework includes seven dimensions: data governance, market strategy, network performance, business development, customers, investments and innovation. Each one is subdivided and evaluated at five maturity levels, which allows weighted scores to be assigned to identify where the organisation is performing well and where it requires improved capabilities.
Researchers noted that generic maturity models can overlook the particular demands of the telecommunications sector. In this industry, data is vital for network management, predictive maintenance, traffic optimisation, fraud detection and analysis of customer behaviour.
The sector is also increasingly dependent on real-time data, distributed infrastructure and automated decision-making, so any framework must be operational and not merely conceptual. Researchers suggest that the new approach could also contribute to the development of maturity models specific to other sectors that make intensive use of data.
