The keys of decision-making criteria for performance enhancement in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) using hybrid decision-making model

Background and Purpose: This study investigates the application of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to enhance employee selection strategies in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by prioritizing key behavioural and institutional criteria. The principal objective is to identify the most influential factor among Innovative Work Behavior (IWB), Gamification (G), and Cultural Diversity (CD) in shaping effective recruitment decisions. Methodology: A structured, quantitative design utilizing the AHP methodology was deployed to evaluate weight-based rankings derived from expert input. Physical survey questionnaires were administered to and collected from 35 senior academic professionals comprising senior lecturers, associate professors, and professors across seven public universities in the northern region of Malaysia (Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, and Perak). These respondents were selected due to their extensive institutional experience and deep expertise, ensuring highly reliable insights. Pairwise comparison matrices were processed using Excel software to calculate relative factor weights. To ensure mathematical rigor, the evaluation process was strictly monitored to keep the Consistency Ratio (CR) within Saaty’s acceptable threshold of 0.10, successfully isolating the key selection criteria for institutional performance enhancement. Findings: The empirical analysis reveals that Innovative Work Behavior (IWB) holds the highest priority with a dominant weight of 0.60364, underscoring the critical importance of innovation and adaptability in modern academic staffing. Gamification (G) and Cultural Diversity (CD) were ranked second and third, respectively. The model’s internal consistency and mathematical validity were confirmed by a Consistency Ratio (CR) of 0.00638, which falls safely below the 0.10 threshold, verifying complete logical coherence. Contributions: This study concludes that integrating the AHP into Human Resource (HR) practices provides a robust, objective framework for aligning talent acquisition with institutional goals. It offers key practical insights for higher education decision-makers, highlighting a critical directive to embed innovation-centric competencies into recruitment and strategic staffing policies. Keywords: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Innovative Work Behavior (IWB), Gamification (G), Cultural Diversity (CD), Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Cite as: Norshahrizan, N., Nur Anis Zulaikha, S. A., Suraiya, I., Ezekiel, A., Anas Firdaus Shaheen, A., Muhamad Azuan M. N., & Mohammad Rezaul, K., (2026). The keys of decision-making criteria for performance enhancement in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) using hybrid decision-making model. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 11(2), 110-130. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss2pp110-130