Big data adoption in public infrastructure projects - contrasting perceptions to conceptualise organisational tensions

Research on projects has highlighted big data as a tool to better understand project characteristics and its dynamics. To maximise these benefits, organisations collaborate to create common big data repositories. However, public infrastructure projects do not seem to have adopted this technological innovation. Based on a pluralist perception of organisational effectiveness, this paper aims to explain how project actors' differing perceptions affect big data adoption. We identify and classify the perceived benefits and challenges related to adopting big data. Findings highlight that perceptions vary as a function of the organisation's position in public projects, but also of its organisational values. This research conceptualises perceptions of big data adoption, identifying three specific organisational tensions - learning, performing, and organising - all of which underlie an overarching belonging tension. This paper underscores the need for collaborative management of these tensions to fully leverage big data's potential, improve decision-making, and enhance project management practices.