Big data analytics (BDA) has attracted significant attention from organisations who are seeking to leverage its analytical capabilities to enhance performance. Yet, most BDA investments fail to realise their expected value, indicating that the path for BDA value creation remains unclear; scholars call for a better understanding of the role of BDA use. Therefore, we seek to answer the research question: How does the use of BDA impact business value? We conducted a developmental literature review, resulting in the conceptualisation of the BDA-Use-Value (BDA-UV) framework. The framework consists of 10 constructs: BDA system capabilities, BDA use, BDA users and tasks, BDA organisational capabilities, complementary organisational resources, BDA learning, goal-oriented activities, intermediate outcomes, ultimate outcomes, and the internal and external environment. The framework also includes 10 propositions, which illuminate the relationships within the BDA value chain, BDA learning loop, and BDA context. This research contributes to theory by providing a consolidated view of disparate yet commensurate research streams (business value of IT and system use) and is critical in the BDA context where organisations are struggling to leverage BDA’s informating potential to derive value.

Electronic business offers opportunities and threats for the firms in business networks, triggering established and new intermediaries to introduce their own electronic business initiatives. Despite their potential, successful designs of electronic intermediaries leading to acceptance by buyers and sellers are intricate and not well understood. The design of an electronic intermediary involves careful balancing of the interests of actors within a vertical business network.In this paper we analyze the design of an electronic intermediary in the maritime sector, and how this design relates to the voluntary acceptance of the intermediary by buyers and sellers. We discuss design choices and expected interests for all actors from the perspective of the intermediary. Acceptance approaches the electronic intermediary from the perspectives of buyers and sellers.The case study shows design choices for a limited role with restricted transparency and little novelty. These choices come mostly with positive expectations of the intermediary for buyers, sellers, and itself. Acceptance results confirm these expectations. Buyers and sellers are moderately positive and satisfied. However, there is the danger that the design has too little added value to convince users, especially buyers.