Ginger Korsten from the Information Systems (IS) group at Eindhoven University of Technology has earned her PhD with research on how organizations can successfully develop advanced data analytics capabilities.
Her dissertation shows that achieving value from data analytics and artificial intelligence depends not only on technology, but also on strategy, governance, processes, skills, and organizational culture.
Looking Beyond Technology
Organizations across healthcare, public services, energy systems, manufacturing, and logistics are investing heavily in data analytics and AI. These technologies can support better decision making, improve operational efficiency, and help address complex societal challenges. Yet many organizations struggle to achieve lasting results from these investments. Korsten’s research examines why this happens and how organizations can build the capabilities needed to make data driven initiatives effective and sustainable.
A Common Struggle
Many organizations use capability maturity models to understand their current situation and identify opportunities for improvement. These models describe how capabilities evolve from basic to more advanced stages. However, existing models for advanced data analytics often focus primarily on technology and provide limited attention to organizational aspects. This can make assessments inconsistent and difficult to compare across organizations.
For business leaders and entrepreneurs, this creates practical challenges. Investments in analytics tools may not produce the expected value when employees lack the necessary skills, decision making processes are unclear, or governance structures are missing. Society faces similar challenges when public organizations seek to use data and AI responsibly while maintaining transparency and accountability.
A New Lens
To address these issues, Korsten developed a comprehensive framework for modeling and assessing organizational capability maturity in advanced data analytics. Using a Design Science Research approach, she created a set of interconnected models and frameworks designed to support both researchers and practitioners.
The research provides a theoretically grounded way to understand how organizational capabilities evolve over time. Rather than focusing only on technical infrastructure, the framework recognizes that successful analytics requires coordinated development across multiple areas of an organization.
What Matters
A central contribution of the research is the development and validation of the Capability Maturity Model for Advanced Data Analytics, known as CMM ADA. The model identifies 24 capabilities distributed across five domains: strategy, technology, analytics lifecycle management, data management and governance, and organizational factors.
This holistic perspective helps organizations understand that analytics success is not achieved through technology alone. For example, a company may have advanced analytical tools but still struggle to generate value if its strategy is unclear or if employees are not equipped to use insights effectively. The model helps organizations identify such gaps and prioritize improvement efforts.
From Insight
Korsten also developed a generic assessment framework that translates maturity models into practical assessment instruments. This framework enables organizations to conduct structured and transparent evaluations of their capabilities and compare results across different contexts.
The research was evaluated through literature reviews, expert studies, workshops, focus groups, questionnaires, and assessments conducted in multiple organizations. This combination of scientific rigor and practical testing ensured that the resulting frameworks are relevant for real world application.
Why It Matters
As organizations increasingly rely on data and AI, they face growing pressure to create value responsibly and sustainably. Businesses must learn how to integrate analytics into everyday decision making, while public organizations need ways to ensure effective and trustworthy use of data. Korsten’s research demonstrates that long term success requires capabilities that extend far beyond technological adoption.
The findings provide organizations with practical tools to assess their current maturity, benchmark progress, and develop improvement roadmaps. By supporting more effective use of advanced analytics, the research contributes to better decisions, stronger innovation, and improved organizational performance in a society where data plays an ever larger role.
Ginger Korsten defended her thesis on September 9, 2026.
Title of the thesis: Designing Capability Maturity Models: A Capability Maturity Model for Advanced Data Analytics.
Supervisors: Oktay Türetken, Banu Aysolmaz, Baris Ozkan.
Marc Rosmalen
m.rosmalen@tue.nl
