Decision Support System Adoption Model for Better Emergency Preparedness in UEA Civil Defence: Theoretical Framework

Decision Support Systems (DSS) play a crucial role in enhancing decision-making processes, especially in high-stakes environments such as civil defence. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), DSS has the potential to revolutionize emergency preparedness and response, enabling faster, more informed, and efficient decision-making during crises. However, the widespread adoption of DSS within the UAE Civil Defence is hindered by several challenges, including resistance to change among personnel accustomed to traditional methods and a lack of awareness regarding the benefits DSS can provide. Despite the growing recognition of DSS's importance, there remains a significant gap in understanding the specific factors that influence its acceptance in this context. This study aims to address these challenges by conducting a systematic review to identify and analyze the key factors that affect DSS acceptance within the UAE Civil Defence. The major findings highlight the critical need for a tailored DSS adoption model that considers the unique operational and cultural environment of the UAE Civil Defence. The absence of such a model hinders effective DSS implementation, potentially limiting the benefits these systems could offer. To bridge this gap, the study proposes the development and rigorous validation of a novel DSS adoption model specifically designed for this context. Further research is suggested to explore the long-term impact of DSS adoption on operational efficiency and to examine the applicability of the proposed model in other sectors or regions. Ultimately, this research seeks to enhance the UAE's emergency preparedness and response capabilities by fostering greater acceptance and utilization of DSS within its Civil Defence framework.