Ethical Digital Data Governance in Business Research: An Integrative Framework and Practical Guidelines for the Digital Age
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Abstract
The findings reveal that existing knowledge remains fragmented and lacks an integrative conceptual framework that systematically connects these dimensions, particularly within the context of business research where findings have significant real-world implications. This study proposes an integrative conceptual framework consisting of five key dimensions: data quality, privacy and data rights, cybersecurity, transparency and auditability, and social accountability. Furthermore, the study identifies structural tensions arising from the imbalance among these dimensions and highlights the need to balance data utilization efficiency with ethical legitimacy. The proposed framework offers practical implications for researchers, academic institutions, and business organizations in designing data governance mechanisms that are both effective and ethically responsible, thereby enhancing the sustainability and credibility of business research in the digital era.
Article history: Received 14 April 2026
Revised 7 May 2026
Accepted 13 May 2026
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