Reframing Business Strategy through Data: A Review of Data-Driven Strategic Thinking

Article Sidebar

PDF
Published: 2026-03-31
Keywords:
Data-driven strategy, Strategic thinking, Business analytics, Competitive advantage, Machine learning, Data science, Organizational Agility

Main Article Content

Boxiong Li
SHEIN, Los Angeles, CA 90021, USA

Abstract

This review paper explores the evolving landscape of business strategy through the lens of data-driven strategic thinking. It examines how organizations are increasingly leveraging data analytics, machine learning, and other data-centric approaches to inform strategic decisions, gain competitive advantages, and adapt to dynamic market conditions. The paper provides a historical overview of the shift from traditional intuition-based strategy to data-informed strategy, highlighting key milestones and influential frameworks. It then delves into two core themes: (1) the application of data analytics for strategic insights, including market segmentation, customer behavior analysis, and competitive intelligence; and (2) the use of data-driven experimentation and learning to refine strategic choices and foster organizational agility. A comparative analysis of different data-driven strategy frameworks is presented, along with a discussion of the challenges associated with implementing and sustaining a data-driven strategic approach. Finally, the paper explores future perspectives, including the potential of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other emerging technologies to further transform business strategy. The review synthesizes a wide range of academic literature and industry best practices, offering valuable insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to understand and implement data-driven strategic thinking.

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Reframing Business Strategy through Data: A Review of Data-Driven Strategic Thinking. (2026). Journal of Sustainability, Policy, and Practice, 2(1), 230-244. http://schoalrx.com/index.php/jspp/article/view/101

References

1. O. Badmus, "From gut feeling to algorithmic thinking: AI-driven decision-making in strategic management," Algora, vol. 1, no. 02, pp. 1-15, 2024.

2. W. Zhao, L. H. Al Jneibi, S. M. Al Mashghouni, and O. O. Almheiri, "Data analytical thinking: The new booster to petroleum industry and foundation of data driven organization," in SPE Gas & Oil Technology Showcase and Conference, 2023, p. D011S012R006.

3. T. T. Adewale, T. D. Olorunyomi, and T. N. Odonkor, "Big data-driven financial analysis: A new paradigm for strategic insights and decision-making," Journal of Financial Innovation and Analytics, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-15, 2023.

4. M. M. Rahman and S. Ashfaq, "Data-driven decision support in information systems: Strategic applications in enterprises," International Journal of Scientific Interdisciplinary Research, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 01-33, 2021.

5. M. R. Martins, "Artificial Intelligence in Business Strategy: How AI Driven Analytics is Reshaping Decision Making," International Journal of Humanities and Information Technology, vol. 7, no. 01, pp. 63-71, 2025.

6. M. S. S. El Namaki, "Data-Driven Strategic Thinking," in *Neo Strategic Management: Conceptual and Operational Foundations of Tomorrow's Strategic Thinking*, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 177-185, 2023.

7. C. E. Sylvestre, "The role of data-driven decision making in business strategy," Research Output Journal of Education, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 80-84, 2024.

8. E. M. Masha, "The case for data driven strategic decision making," European Journal of Business and Management, vol. 10, 2014.

9. Q. Hossain, F. Yasmin, T. R. Biswas, and N. B. Asha, "Data-Driven Business Strategies: A Comparative Analysis of Data Science Techniques in Decision-Making," Sch J Econ Bus Manag, vol. 9, pp. 257-263, 2024.

10. S. O'Connor, B. Laible, and K. Ullom, "Data-Driven Strategic Planning: Four-Year Implementation of a Novel Tool and Process," American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, vol. 87, no. 8, p. 100145, 2023.

11. D. Prakash, "Data-driven management: The impact of big data analytics on organizational performance," International Journal for Global Academic & Scientific Research, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 12-23, 2024.

12. S. E. Bibri, "Data-driven smart sustainable cities of the future: Urban computing and intelligence for strategic, short-term, and joined-up planning," Computational Urban Science, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 8, 2021.