Shifting ML Value Creation Mechanisms: A Process Model of ML Value Creation

Arisa Shollo*, Konstantin Hopf, Tiemo Thiess, Oliver Müller

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are rapidly changing the competitive landscape. In the search for an appropriate strategic response, firms are currently engaging in a large variety of AI projects. However, recent studies suggest that many companies are falling short in creating tangible business value through AI. As the current scientific body of knowledge lacks empirically-grounded research studies for explaining this phenomenon, we conducted an exploratory interview study focusing on 56 applications of machine learning (ML) in 29 different companies. Through an inductive qualitative analysis, we uncover three broad types and five subtypes of ML value creation mechanisms, identify necessary but not sufficient conditions for successfully leveraging them, and observe that organizations, in their efforts to create value, dynamically shift from one ML value creation mechanism to another by reconfiguring their ML applications (i.e., the shifting practice). We synthesize these findings into a process model of ML value creation, which illustrates how organizations engage in (resource) orchestration by shifting between ML value creation mechanisms as their capabilities evolve and business conditions change. Our model provides an alternative explanation for the current high failure rate of ML projects.
Original languageEnglish
Article number101734
JournalJournal of Strategic Information Systems
Volume31
Issue number3
Number of pages20
ISSN0963-8687
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2022

Keywords

  • Artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Machine learning (ML)
  • Value creation mechanisms
  • Knowledge creation
  • Augmentation
  • Automation
  • AI strategy
  • Interview study

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