The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Managerial Decision-Making in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, managerial decision-making, educational management, higher education, systematic literature reviewAbstract
This study aims to systematically analyze and synthesize the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in managerial decision-making within higher education institutions, as well as to identify research trends, conceptual models, enabling factors, and implementation challenges. The study employs a qualitative approach using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) design. The research procedure follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. The research subjects consist of scholarly articles published in reputable national and international journals between 2015 and 2025, indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, and Google Scholar databases. Data collection was conducted through a systematic search using keywords related to Artificial Intelligence, managerial decision-making, and higher education, followed by selection based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was carried out using a thematic synthesis approach to identify patterns, categories, and major themes within the literature. The findings indicate that the role of AI can be classified into four main functions: (1) a strategic decision support system based on predictive analytics; (2) the reinforcement of data-driven decision-making in institutional governance; (3) the optimization of operational decisions and the management of academic and non-academic resources; and (4) the enhancement of accuracy in planning, monitoring, and institutional performance evaluation. The implementation of AI has been shown to improve the quality, speed, and precision of managerial decisions through the integration of big data and intelligent analytical models.
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