هوشمندی استراتژیک؛ پیشران راهبردی عملکرد دانشگاه‌های عراق: شواهدی از مدل‌سازی معادلات ساختاری

سهام   جوادکاظم; محمد فاریابی; وحید   احمدیان; سید صمد  حسینی

Authors

Suham Jawad Kadhim PhD Student, Department of Strategic Management, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4592-0353
Mohammad Faryabi Associated Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5932-1218
Vahid Ahmadian Associated Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6982-7514
Seyed Samad Hosseini Associated Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8295-0549

Keywords:

Strategic intelligence, organizational performance, Iraqi universities, structural equation modeling, confirmatory factor analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to empirically examine the effect of strategic intelligence on organizational performance in Iraqi universities and determine its explanatory power in improving university performance. This applied study employed a quantitative, causal descriptive-survey design using structural equation modeling. The statistical population comprised 77,040 faculty members and employees from 13 public and private universities in Iraq. Based on Cochran’s formula, 382 participants were selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed Strategic Intelligence Questionnaire comprising 94 items, 20 components, and two principal dimensions—external and internal strategic intelligence—and the 38-item Organizational Performance Questionnaire developed by Alvi et al. (2020), covering 11 dimensions. Construct validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis, while reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS version 4.1. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that all factor loadings exceeded 0.60, composite reliability values were above 0.70, and average variance extracted values exceeded 0.50; discriminant validity was also supported by the Fornell–Larcker criterion. Structural model analysis revealed that strategic intelligence had a positive and statistically significant effect on organizational performance in Iraqi universities (β=0.599, t=17.046). Strategic intelligence explained 35.9% of the variance in organizational performance (R²=0.359). Model-fit indices further supported the adequacy of the proposed model, with SRMR=0.076, NFI=0.880, and GOF=0.41. Strategic intelligence constitutes an important strategic capability for enhancing organizational performance in Iraqi universities. Strengthening its internal and external dimensions can improve evidence-informed decision-making, environmental responsiveness, and universities’ capacity to achieve their organizational objectives effectively. Accordingly, university administrators should institutionalize strategic intelligence practices across planning, information management, environmental scanning, resource allocation, and organizational transformation processes.

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