Barrieren und Erfolgsfaktoren für den Einsatz von Business Intelligence und Analytics zur Entscheidungsunterstützung für Unternehmen in der Lebensmittelbranche

Abstract

In this master’s thesis, the barriers and success factors for the adoption of Business Intelligence and Analytics (BIA) in the Austrian food industry are examined. The starting point is the observation that, despite comparable framework conditions, companies in this sector display very different levels of progress in using data-driven decision support. The aim of the study is to systematically analyze the causes of these differences and to derive practice-oriented recommendations. Methodologically, the thesis is based on a combination of literature review and empirical research. Five semi-structured expert interviews with decision-makers from the food industry were conducted and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The coding process was carried out along deductive categories (e.g., technological, organizational, and environmental factors) as well as inductively derived categories. The findings reveal that the most significant barriers are mainly related to business, organizational, and cultural factors. In contrast, key success factors identified include a clear BIA strategy, active support from management, targeted development of resources and competencies, and the promotion of a data-driven corporate culture. Furthermore, sector-specific challenges such as seasonality and the particular requirements of traceability and transparency were highlighted. This thesis thus makes both a theoretical and a practical contribution: It shows that the success of BIA in the food industry does not depend solely on technological solutions but is largely determined by organizational and cultural conditions. The results provide concrete recommendations for successful implementation in practice while also expanding academic knowledge with industry-specific insights.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Gabriel Kronberger (Supervisor)