This paper examines the impact of operational-level big data management capabilities on ambidextrous innovation and sustainable performance in the hotel industry. Drawing on the Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and Path–Goal Theory of leadership, the study uses survey data collected from 318 IT executives and 310 general managers across hotels. The findings indicate that data contextualization and data execution positively influence ambidextrous innovation, whereas data democratization and data experimentation do not exhibit significant effects. Ambidextrous innovation in turn is positively associated with economic, social, and environmental performance. Furthermore, big data leadership strengthens the effects of data contextualization and data execution on ambidextrous innovation but does not significantly moderate the effects of data democratization and data experimentation. Overall, this paper highlights how operational big data capabilities, when supported by leadership, enable hotels to drive innovation and achieve sustainable performance. • Examines how operational-level big data capabilities support ambidextrous innovation and sustainable performance in hotels. • Integrates Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and Path–Goal Theory of leadership. • Data contextualization and data execution significantly enhance ambidextrous innovation. • Big data leadership strengthens how key operational big data capabilities influence ambidextrous innovation in hotels.
Nisar et al. (Tue,) studied this question.