Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between SWOT analysis application and decision-making quality has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Selected Public Universities in Nigeria where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Selected Public Universities in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on SWOT analysis application, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with decision-making quality, particularly within Selected Public Universities in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about SWOT analysis application without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect decision-making quality. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of SWOT Analysis Application on decision-making quality in Selected Public Universities in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which SWOT analysis application influences decision-making quality within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with SWOT analysis application in relation to decision-making quality.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing SWOT analysis application in order to improve decision-making quality.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of SWOT analysis application on decision-making quality in Selected Public Universities in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does SWOT analysis application influence decision-making quality within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with SWOT analysis application in relation to decision-making quality?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize SWOT analysis application in order to improve decision-making quality?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of business analysis, this study has practical value for management teams within Selected Public Universities in Nigeria seeking to understand how SWOT analysis application translates into measurable outcomes around decision-making quality. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this PhD study confines itself to Selected Public Universities in Nigeria, focusing specifically on how SWOT analysis application relates to decision-making quality within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.