Cognitive Bias Mitigation in Executive Decision-Making: A Data-Driven Approach Integrating Big Data Analytics, AI, and Explainable Systems

Cognitive biases continue to pose significant challenges in executive decision-making, often leading to strategic inefficiencies, misallocation of resources, and flawed risk assessments. While traditional decision-making relies on intuition and experience, these methods are increasingly proving inadequate in addressing the complexity of modern business environments. Despite the growing integration of big data analytics into executive workflows, existing research lacks a comprehensive examination of how AI-driven methodologies can systematically mitigate biases while maintaining transparency and trust. This paper addresses these gaps by analyzing how big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and explainable AI (XAI) contribute to reducing heuristic-driven errors in executive reasoning. Specifically, it explores the role of predictive modeling, real-time analytics, and decision intelligence systems in enhancing objectivity and decision accuracy. Furthermore, this study identifies key organizational and technical barriers—such as biases embedded in training data, model opacity, and resistance to AI adoption—that hinder the effectiveness of data-driven decision-making. By reviewing empirical findings from A/B testing, simulation experiments, and behavioral assessments, this research examines the applicability of AI-powered decision support systems in strategic management. The contributions of this paper include a detailed analysis of bias mitigation mechanisms, an evaluation of current limitations in AI-driven decision intelligence, and practical recommendations for fostering a more data-driven decision culture. By addressing these research gaps, this study advances the discourse on responsible AI adoption and provides actionable insights for organizations seeking to enhance executive decision-making through big data analytics.