Short answer

When selecting digital suppliers, especially for SMEs in transformation, employ advanced decision-making frameworks that explicitly handle uncertainty and evaluate a broad range of economic and operational factors to ensure optimal value and mitigate financial risk.

Field: Innovation & Markets
Source: International Journal of Economic Sciences (2025)
Method: Quantitative, Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework development and application, incorporating Pythagorean Neutrosophic sets and a Flexible Indeterminacy Quantifier (FIQ), validated through sensitivity and case study analysis.
Evidence: Strong effect

A novel multi-criteria decision-making framework using Pythagorean Neutrosophic TOPSIS and VIKOR, incorporating a Flexible Indeterminacy Quantifier, can improve economic rationality and reduce financial risk in digital supplier selection for manufacturing SMEs. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in International Journal of Economic Sciences. Using Quantitative, multi-criteria decision-making (mcdm) framework development and application, incorporating pythagorean neutrosophic sets and a flexible indeterminacy quantifier (fiq), validated through sensitivity and case study analysis., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When selecting digital suppliers, especially for SMEs in transformation, employ advanced decision-making frameworks that explicitly handle uncertainty and evaluate a broad range of economic and operational factors to ensure optimal value and mitigate financial risk.

Study

Innovation & MarketsNew This WeekStrong effect

Neutrosophic MCDM framework enhances economic value in digital supplier selection for SMEs

International Journal of Economic Sciences · 2025

Key Findings

01The developed framework effectively addresses incomplete and uncertain evaluations in digital supplier selection.
02The Flexible Indeterminacy Quantifier (FIQ) enhances score differentiation and ranking stability.
03The model produces consistent outcomes under varying budgetary assumptions, confirming its robustness.
04The research identifies a supplier that balances affordability with operational reliability, delivering the highest economic value.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When evaluating potential digital service providers or technology partners, use a structured approach that quantifies qualitative factors and accounts for potential risks and uncertainties, perhaps by adapting the neutrosophic MCDM principles presented.

Project actions

01When choosing materials or components for a design project, consider using a decision matrix that goes beyond simple pros and cons to account for uncertainty and multiple criteria.
02Explore how fuzzy logic or similar mathematical concepts can be applied to quantify subjective factors in your design choices.

Method & Evidence

AimTo develop and validate a quantitative multi-criteria decision-making framework that integrates Pythagorean Neutrosophic TOPSIS and VIKOR with a novel distance measure (FIQ) to address incomplete and uncertain evaluations in digital supplier selection for manufacturing SMEs, thereby optimizing economic value.

MethodQuantitative, Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework development and application, incorporating Pythagorean Neutrosophic sets and a Flexible Indeterminacy Quantifier (FIQ), validated through sensitivity and case study analysis.

ProcedureThe study developed a framework combining Pythagorean Neutrosophic TOPSIS (PNTOPSIS) and VIKOR (PNVIKOR) with a Flexible Indeterminacy Quantifier (FIQ). This framework was applied to evaluate five digital suppliers for manufacturing SMEs based on criteria such as system capability, vendor support, total cost, and risk of disruption. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the model's robustness under varying budgetary conditions.

ContextDigital supplier selection for manufacturing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) undergoing digital transformation.

Variables

IVThe integration of Pythagorean Neutrosophic sets and the Flexible Indeterminacy Quantifier (FIQ) into MCDM frameworks.

DVEconomic value of digital suppliers, supplier ranking stability, and reduction in financial risk.

CVCriteria used for supplier evaluation (system capability, vendor support, total cost, risk of disruption), number of suppliers evaluated, and the underlying manufacturing SME context.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses the critical issue of uncertainty in supplier selection for SMEs.
+Introduces a novel distance measure (FIQ) that enhances decision-making robustness.
+Provides a quantitative, economically-focused framework applicable to real-world scenarios.

Limitations

The complexity of the mathematical models used might be a barrier to direct application without significant simplification. Real-world data for supplier evaluation can be difficult to obtain and may not always fit neatly into neutrosophic frameworks.

Reliability & validity

The study's reliability is supported by sensitivity analysis confirming consistent outcomes. Validity is enhanced by applying the framework to a real-world case study, demonstrating its practical applicability in addressing economic evaluation and supplier selection.

Think critically

How might the 'Flexible Indeterminacy Quantifier' be adapted to evaluate subjective user preferences or aesthetic qualities in a design project, rather than just economic factors?

Design Principles

"In complex procurement decisions involving uncertainty, utilize robust multi-criteria decision-making models that incorporate flexible evaluation metrics to achieve economically rational and stable outcomes."

Manufacturing SMEs undergoing digital transformation face complex decisions when selecting digital suppliers. This research offers a robust, uncertainty-aware methodology to evaluate suppliers based on economic factors like cost, capability, and support, leading to more informed procurement strategies and improved long-term competitiveness.

What This Means for Your Design

This research shows how businesses, especially smaller ones, can use a smart math tool to pick the best digital partners by considering not just price but also how reliable they are and how uncertain things are, helping them save money and make better choices.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this research when discussing the methodology for selecting components, materials, or manufacturing processes, particularly if your project involves uncertainty or multiple conflicting criteria.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This study's approach to evaluating digital suppliers using a Pythagorean Neutrosophic MCDM framework with a Flexible Indeterminacy Quantifier offers a robust method for addressing uncertainty in procurement decisions. Similar principles can be applied to the selection of design components or manufacturing partners, where multiple criteria and uncertain information are common, ensuring a more economically rational and resilient outcome for the design project.

Source

International Journal of Economic Sciences

Economic Evaluation of Digital Suppliers for Manufacturing SMEs Using Pythagorean Neutrosophic TOPSIS and VIKOR with a Flexible Distance Metric

journal · 2025

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Questions About This Research

What does the research say about neutrosophic mcdm framework enhances economic value in digital supplier selection for smes?: When selecting digital suppliers, especially for SMEs in transformation, employ advanced decision-making frameworks that explicitly handle uncertainty and evaluate a broad range of economic and operational factors to ensure optimal value and mitigate financial risk. Evidence: International Journal of Economic Sciences (2025).
Why does "Neutrosophic MCDM framework enhances economic value in digital supplier selection for SMEs" matter for design?: Manufacturing SMEs undergoing digital transformation face complex decisions when selecting digital suppliers. This research offers a robust, uncertainty-aware methodology to evaluate suppliers based on economic factors like cost, capability, and support, leading to more informed procurement strategies and improved long-term competitiveness.
How can designers apply this research?: When selecting digital suppliers, especially for SMEs in transformation, employ advanced decision-making frameworks that explicitly handle uncertainty and evaluate a broad range of economic and operational factors to ensure optimal value and mitigate financial risk.
What were the main findings?: The developed framework effectively addresses incomplete and uncertain evaluations in digital supplier selection.. The Flexible Indeterminacy Quantifier (FIQ) enhances score differentiation and ranking stability.. The model produces consistent outcomes under varying budgetary assumptions, confirming its robustness.. The research identifies a supplier that balances affordability with operational reliability, delivering the highest economic value.
What research method was used?: Quantitative, Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework development and application, incorporating Pythagorean Neutrosophic sets and a Flexible Indeterminacy Quantifier (FIQ), validated through sensitivity and case study analysis..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from International Journal of Economic Sciences.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When evaluating potential digital service providers or technology partners, use a structured approach that quantifies qualitative factors and accounts for potential risks and uncertainties, perhaps by adapting the neutrosophic MCDM principles presented.
What are the limitations?: The study's findings are based on a single case study, and the effectiveness of the FIQ distance measure may vary with different types of uncertainty or data quality.