DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING APPROACH FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Data-driven decision making (DDDM) is an innovative managerial problem solving approach which has emerged as a powerful strategy in exploring data-based decision-making process for effective and quality service delivery in organizations. It is a process for deciding on a course of action based on data availability. Higher Educational system access data indigenously for many reasons which include data for, institutional planning, staff appraisal, strategy policy formation, financial record purposes, or as required by the government ministries for regulations. Management of higher education in Nigeria solely depends on the availability of data information about students, staff faculty/department, facilities, financial record, students’ academic records; and the communities that educational institutions serve. With enormous challenges facing the utilization and appropriate management of higher education, this paper explores implementation strategy of DDDM in the management of higher education, it also highlight best practical approach for management of higher education, benefits of Data-driven decision making in higher education and potential challenges in the use of data for effective decision making process. Enabling educational leaders to optimize resources, mitigate risks, and improve student learning objective. The papa reviewed literature concepts in order to x-ray the importance of full implementation of DDDM in higher education in Nigeria. The paper also outlines various challenges facing the higher education and the need for managing of fiscal/non-fiscal resources.