An Informed Decision Support Framework from a Strategic Perspective in the Health Sector

Abstract

This paper introduces an informed decision support framework (IDSF) from a strategic perspective in the health sector, focusing on Saudi Arabia. The study addresses the existing challenges and gaps in decision-making processes within Saudi organizations, highlighting the need for proper systems and identifying the loopholes that hinder informed decision making. The research aims to answer two key research questions: (1) how do decision makers ensure the accuracy of their decisions? and (2) what is the proper process to govern and control decision outcomes? To achieve these objectives, the research adopts a qualitative research approach, including an intensive literature review and interviews with decision makers in the Saudi health sector. The proposed IDSF fills the gap in the existing literature by providing a comprehensive and adaptable framework for decision making in Saudi organizations. The framework encompasses structured, semi-structured, and unstructured decisions, ensuring a thorough approach to informed decision making. It emphasizes the importance of integrating non-digital sources of information into the decision-making process, as well as considering factors that impact decision quality and accuracy. The study’s methodology involves data collection through interviews with decision makers, as well as the use of visualization tools to present and evaluate the results. The analysis of the collected data highlights the deficiencies in current decision-making practices and supports the development of the IDSF. The research findings demonstrate that the proposed framework outperforms existing approaches, offering improved accuracy and efficiency in decision making. Overall, this research paper contributes to the state of the art by introducing a novel IDSF specifically designed for the Saudi health sector.