Title: The role of business intelligence in a knowledge-based economy: the case of Saudi Arabia

Authors: Jamal Abu-Rashed; Ibrahim Almafdali; John A. Ballard

Addresses: School of Business, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH 45432, USA ' Mohammad Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Bay La Sun, Hejaz Boulevard, Unit No. 1, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia ' School of Business, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH 45432, USA

Abstract: This paper examines the role of business intelligence in creating a more knowledge-based economy in Saudi Arabia. It identifies major enablers that could be utilised to close the existing gaps between business and competitive intelligence. We assess the fundamentals of Saudi Arabia's economy to make recommendations for that economy for the long term. Our recommendations are based on our experiences with Saudi culture as well as the current state of the economy. Saudi Arabia has embarked on an ambitious plan to reduce or end its dependency on crude oil as a revenue generator. We have identified seven major issues that may enable movement toward a more knowledge-based and innovative economy. These issues, if addressed, may help decision-makers transform Saudi Arabia's markets to a more knowledge-driven economy that is less dependent on oil.

Keywords: business intelligence; knowledge economy; normative economics; Saudi Arabia; Saudi National Transformation Programme; Vision 2030; private-public sector partnership; educational institutions; higher education; skilled labour force; open economy; political will; infrastructure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2020.103893

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2020 Vol.19 No.1, pp.30 - 41

Received: 27 Feb 2018
Accepted: 12 Dec 2018
Published online: 02 Dec 2019 *

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