A Review of Big Data Research in Accounting

Francis Aboagye-Otchere, Cletus Agyenim-Boateng, Abdulai Enusah, Theodora Ekua Aryee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The impending fourth industrial revolution has enhanced the role of big data analytics in today’s business practice. Consequently, many now consider big data as the most strategic resource in business to the extent that organizations that fail to utilize it may become competitively disadvantaged. Following these developments, questions have been raised about the future of the accounting discipline, especially in terms of how it can continue to add value to organizations. While some scholars have attempted to address this question, it remains an abstract concept requiring further investigation. Therefore, this study conducts a systematic literature review to determine the status of accounting research on big data analytics and provides avenues for further studies. By conducting co-occurrence network analysis on 52 peer-reviewed articles published from 2010 to 2020, three broad themes emerged, entailing big data implications for accounting practice, education, and research design. A further examination of the themes revealed few empirical studies on the phenomenon, as conceptual research dominates the field. Although external audit implications of big data are widely discussed, other accounting domains (e.g., managerial accounting and taxation) are underexplored. Therefore, future studies may focus on the implications of big data on variables such as performance measurement, information governance, tax behavior, curriculum design, and pedagogy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)268-283
Number of pages16
JournalIntelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management
Volume28
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Accounting Education
  • Accounting Profession
  • Accounting Research
  • Big Data Analytics
  • Co-occurrence Network Analysis

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