Business Intelligence Management Studies

The Framework of the Factors Affecting Strategic Decision-Making in Startups in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Fatemeh Khorasanchi 1
parimah aghajani 2

1 Department of Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

10.22054/ims.2026.94466.2846
Abstract
The rapid advancement of emerging technologies has transformed managerial paradigms; however, a comprehensive understanding of strategic decision-making in startups remains theoretically underdeveloped. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive framework of the factors affecting strategic decision-making in startups in the era of artificial intelligence. This applied qualitative study employed a meta-synthesis approach based on the seven-step model proposed by Sandelowski and Barroso. The study corpus consisted of peer-reviewed articles published in national and international scientific databases between 2019 and 2026. Following a systematic screening process, 48 articles were selected for the final analysis. Data were collected using meta-synthesis data extraction forms and analyzed through coding and qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed six major categories of factors affecting startups' strategic decision-making: cognitive and process-related factors, technological factors, organizational factors, human–artificial intelligence interaction factors, environmental factors, and risks and challenges encompassing technical, human, ethical, organizational, and strategic dimensions.The findings suggest that successful strategic decision-making in startups depends on adopting hybrid decision-making models and achieving synergy between the analytical capabilities of artificial intelligence and the intuitive judgment of entrepreneurs.

Keywords

Strategic decision-making
Startups
Artificial intelligence
Meta-synthesis
Entrepreneurial judgment
Subjects
Business Intelligence Management Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 11 November 2026

  • Receive Date 21 July 2026
  • Revise Date 18 October 2026
  • Accept Date 20 October 2026

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