Data Analysis in Polish Enterprises - The Use of Data Analysis in Making Strategic Decisions

Emil Zelma

doi:10.2478/ijcm-2026-0019

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Data Analysis in Polish Enterprises - The Use of Data Analysis in Making Strategic Decisions

International Journal of Contemporary Management

Volume 62 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)

By: Emil Zelma

Open Access

|Sep 2026

Abstract

Purpose

This article, based on both a literature review and empirical research, was prepared to assess the degree to which data analysis is used in strategic decision-making in Polish enterprises. Based on our own research, conducted in companies from various sectors and operating on various scales (from sole proprietorships to entities employing several hundred employees), it has also been attempted to assess how managers use data in decision-making processes and what barriers executives face.

Design/methodology/approach

The analyses and discussions presented in this article are grounded in two primary sources: a review of the relevant scientific literature and original empirical research. The empirical study was conducted via an online survey involving a total of 99 respondents, all of whom were entrepreneurs or managers. The research aimed to examine how analytical insight is utilized in strategic decision-making within Polish enterprises.

Practical implications/Originality/value

Empirical research indicates that the frequency and scope of data analysis, as well as the barriers encountered in conducting it, largely depend on company size. However, this does not mean that smaller business entities always conduct analyses less frequently or to a limited extent; large entities also face barriers to effective analytical insights. These studies demonstrate that data analysis in business is a multi-step process, complex even in organizations with adequate resources.

Findings

The study confirms that managerial competencies are the strongest predictor of data-driven decision-making, outperforming company size and AI adoption. Data quality perception was the only significant barrier, while firm size and market experience positively correlate with analytical intensity.

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