Decision-Making Framework for Sustainable Construction Products Selection in SMEs

Dharmaraj Sivasubramanian and Jin Gang Lee ()
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Dharmaraj Sivasubramanian: ELPS (Environmental Law Policy Science), Seoul 06181, Korea
Jin Gang Lee: School of Industrial Design & Architectural Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education, Cheonan 31253, Korea

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: In the construction industry, decision-making plays an important role in achieving sustainability. Decision-making processes have significantly expanded to consider detailed product information when selecting sustainable alternatives in order to make more accurate choices; however, it has also turned out to be a barrier due to the knowledge intensiveness of the process and unreliable product information, especially in SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). This research focuses on developing a simple decision-making framework for selecting sustainable products as alternatives. The proposed framework is developed with analysis of two transparent factors: (1) life cycle cost and (2) technology growth rate. A decision-making model also provides a visual comparison of the alternatives in consideration with quadrant model. The resulting framework provides a distinct anticipated outcome description for each product considered; thus, enabling the decision-makers to identify and choose the most suitable alternative. The framework is expected to influence the spread of sustainable products in SMEs.

Keywords: sustainable products; decision framework; obsolescence; life cycle cost; SMEs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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