Emerging Technologies and Decision-Making Effectiveness in Nigerian University Libraries: The Mediating Role of Organizational Psychology

Abstract

This study examined the relationship among emerging technologies, organisational psychology, and decision-making practices in Nigerian university libraries within the context of ongoing digital transformation in higher education. The study investigated the influence of emerging technologies on decision-making practices, assessed the contribution of organisational psychology variables to decision-making effectiveness, and determined the joint predictive influence of both variables on administrative decision-making in university libraries. A descriptive correlational survey design was adopted. The population comprised professional librarians, para-professional staff, and library administrators from selected federal, state, and private university libraries in Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling procedure, 420 respondents were selected. Data were collected through the Emerging Technologies, Organisational Psychology, and Decision-Making Practices Questionnaire (ETOPDMPQ), which demonstrated satisfactory reliability coefficients ranging from 0.82 to 0.88, with an overall Cronbach’s alpha of 0.86. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and multiple regression analysis at the 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between emerging technologies and decision-making practices, r(418) = .684, p < .001. Organisational psychology variables significantly influenced decision-making effectiveness, while emerging technologies and organisational psychology jointly accounted for substantial variance in decision-making outcomes, F(2, 417) = 327.46, p < .001. The study contributes theoretically to the integration of the Technology Acceptance Model and Socio-Technical Systems Theory in explaining technology-driven decision-making in academic libraries. The study highlights the practical importance of investing in digital infrastructure, staff development, and supportive organisational cultures to enhance evidence-based decision-making and institutional effectiveness in Nigerian university libraries.