The Application of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Evaluating Employee Selection Criteria: Insights from Northern Malaysia

Abstract

Employee selection in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is increasingly challenged by financial constraints and skills gaps. This study addresses these challenges by employing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to develop a systematic framework for optimizing academic staff recruitment. Through a survey conducted among experienced lecturers at public universities in Malaysia's Northern Region, the research identifies and ranks critical selection criteria: Innovative Work Behaviour AHP (IWBA) emerges as the most significant, followed by Ethical Climate AHP (ECA) and Cultural Diversity AHP (CDA). The findings
underscore the importance of fostering creativity and ethical environments in academic recruitment to meet institutional goals of excellence and innovation. By integrating the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology, this research provides Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) administrators with a robust, quantitative decision-making framework to refine personnel selection processes. This strategic approach ensures alignment between recruitment practices and organizational objectives, offering actionable insights to enhance staff performance, retention, and overall institutional success.