Employing Advanced Cognitive Technologies to Enhance the Effectiveness of Academic and Administrative Decision-Making Processes
(An Applied Study in Iraqi Higher Education Institutions, Tikrit University as a Model)
Abstract
The descriptive analysis of the study sample at Tikrit University revealed a demographic and organizational diversity that reflects a balanced representation of academic and administrative leadership. The data showed a moderate-to-high level of advanced cognitive technology adoption, with an overall mean of 3.147. Decision Support Systems (DSS) ranked highest among the dimensions, followed by predictive analytics, automation and machine learning, and finally generative technologies. This variation reflects differences in technical readiness and infrastructure Regarding decision-making effectiveness, the results indicated a high mean score of 4.791, with academic decision-making ranked first, followed by program planning and administrative decision-making. Inferential analysis revealed a strong and statistically significant positive correlation between cognitive technology use and decision-making effectiveness (r = 0.825), with a high explanatory power (R² = 0.680), confirming the pivotal role of these technologies in enhancing institutional decision-making Significant differences were also found based on job position and academic specialization, with deans and engineering disciplines recording the highest levels of adoption. Multiple regression analysis identified Decision Support Systems as the strongest predictor of decision-making effectiveness, within a model explaining 76.9% of the variance These findings highlight the need for a phased institutional strategy to adopt advanced cognitive technologies, starting with mature systems and gradually incorporating more complex technologies, while enhancing human capacity and technical infrastructure to support digital transformation.
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