OPJU Business Review

Research Articles

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): OPJU Business Review

Enhancing Human Resource (HR) effectiveness through Emotional Intelligence: A Multi-Criteria Decision-making Approach.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63825/opjubr.2026.5.1.924
Submitted
1 December 2025
Published
11 July 2026

Abstract

Emotional Intelligence (EI) plays a pivotal role in determining professional success, particularly in people-centric roles such as Human Resource Management. However, there remains limited empirical clarity on which specific EI dimensions most significantly contribute to the effectiveness of Human Resource Professionals (HRPs). This study attempted to identify, prioritize EI dimensions which most significantly affect the success of Human Resource Professionals (HRPs). Using a mixed-method approach combining literature review and expert consultation, key EI dimensions were structured into a hierarchical framework and analysed using the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Pairwise comparisons from 50 HR experts revealed self-awareness, stress management, and empathy as the most influential dimensions, followed by optimism, orderliness, and decision-making. The study provides a systematic and data-driven framework for evaluating EI competencies among HRPs, offering valuable implications for HR recruitment, training, and leadership development strategies. While this study was conducted on HRPs across diverse industries to improve the generalizability of the findings, future studies should replicate this study in various countries, different professions, and cultural settings to validate the results. Overall, the work highlights central role of EI in enhancing HR effectiveness and organisational performance.

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