Abstract

Data and technological capacity drive individuals and companies to accumulate digital assets—documents, photos, emails, apps, and more—often without clear purpose, a behavior termed "digital hoarding" or "data sprawl." While individuals hoard for personal reasons, organizations pile up data aiming to collect customer insights, boost efficiency, and inform the business strategy. Yet, without clear data strategies, these repositories become inefficient, incurring high financial and non-financial costs, and hindering knowledge creation and retrieval. Unlike visible physical hoarding, corporate digital accumulation often goes unnoticed until critical needs arise. This article examines whether companies are crafting effective data strategies, exploring how unstructured data growth complicates operations and escalates maintenance costs for unused technology. The study advocates for robust data curation and governance to convert digital assets into actionable value.

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