Generative AI as a Strategic Analytics Tool for Enhancing Faculty Wellbeing and Organizational Commitment in Higher Education Institutions
The rapid integration of generative AI (GenAI) in higher education institutions (HEIs) presents both opportunities and challenges for faculty members, who often face high workloads, stress, and risks of burnout. This study positions GenAI not merely as a teaching or research aid but as a strategic analytics tool to proactively enhance faculty wellbeing and organizational commitment. By leveraging GenAI's advanced capabilities in natural language processing, predictive modeling, and data synthesis, institutions can deploy analytics-driven applications to monitor workload patterns, detect early signs of burnout (e.g., through sentiment analysis of faculty communications or anonymized survey data), and generate personalized recommendations for time management, resource allocation, and professional development. GenAI can automate routine administrative tasks—such as report generation, grading support, and curriculum drafting—freeing faculty time for meaningful teaching, research, and self-care activities, thereby reducing technostress while amplifying efficacy and autonomy. Drawing on theories of job demands-resources and self-determination, the research examines how GenAI-enabled analytics foster psychological needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, relatedness), leading to improved emotional wellbeing (lower stress, higher happiness and energy) and stronger affective commitment to the institution. Empirical insights from surveys and case studies in diverse HEI contexts reveal that strategic, ethical deployment of GenAI—supported by institutional policies, training, and privacy safeguards—yields significant gains in faculty retention, job satisfaction, and engagement. However, unbalanced adoption risks exacerbating inequities or workload intensification. Ultimately, this paper argues that viewing GenAI as a strategic analytics instrument enables HEIs to cultivate healthier, more committed faculty communities, aligning technological innovation with human-centered organizational goals for sustainable academic excellence.