A Big Data Adaptability Framework in Developing Democracies, Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

As oil and electricity shaped prospects of many developed economies in the previous centuries, the information age is shaped by big data analytics and artificial intelligence-related mechanisms to propel future economies. Big Data analytics provide a bountiful platform of real-time facts derived from data accumulated from the government’s information and communications technologies (ICTs). In this paper, we reflect on the opportunities big data creates in reconceptualizing governance in Africa’s developing democracies. Through wellstructured systematic literature survey, we explore the applications and adaptability of big data in developing democracies and their structures of governance. We connote that governments are likely to create significant value from structured, semistructured and unstructured big data that appear naturally because of using respective ICTs governance through a big data lens. This value is in terms of inclusive egovernance, provision of government services among others.