Data$-$Driven Decision$-$Making in Financial Management The integration of big data into financial management is transforming how investment firms make decisions, particularly within the South African context. As firms increasingly adopt real$-$time market data, economic indicators, and financial performance metrics, they are gaining the ability to make more precise and timely decisions. This shift holds the potential not only to improve risk assessment, capital allocation, and forecasting accuracy but also to enhance long$-$term strategic planning and investment performance.Conduct a thorough and critical literature review on the role of real$-$time data in financial decision$-$making, with an emphasis on its impact on the financial performance of investment firms. In your review, systematically explore the theories of data as a resource and data$-$driven decision$-$making, and the theoretical advantages associated with the integration of real$-$time data into financial management, addressing key areas such as risk management, market forecasting, and operational efficiency. Critically evaluate and synthesise empirical research that examines the relationship between real$-$time data utilisation and financial performance indicators, such as portfolio returns, risk$-$adjusted performance, and capital allocation efficiency. In addition, identify and discuss significant gaps in the existing literature that your proposed study seeks to address, highlighting the potential contribution of your research to the field.