A Hybrid AHP–Fuzzy MOORA Decision Support Tool for Advancing Social Sustainability in the Construction Sector

Sara Saboor, Vian Ahmed, Chiraz Anane and Zied Bahroun ()
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Sara Saboor: Social Science Division, New York University, Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Campus, Social Science Building (A5), Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates
Vian Ahmed: Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
Chiraz Anane: Department of Foreign Languages, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
Zied Bahroun: Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-31

Abstract: The construction industry plays a key role in economic development but continues to face challenges in promoting employee well-being, particularly mental health and social sustainability. While existing decision-making tools emphasize environmental and economic factors, the social dimension remains largely overlooked, creating a significant gap in both research and practice. To address this, the study develops a decision support tool (DST) to help construction organizations prioritize strategic investments that enhance employee social sustainability. The tool is based on a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making framework, combining the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Fuzzy MOORA to integrate both quantitative and qualitative assessments. A literature review, along with findings from a previous empirical study, identified 27 validated criteria, grouped into seven core sustainability alternatives. Additionally, five decision criteria (cost, risk, compatibility, return on investment, and difficulty) were refined through expert interviews. The DST was implemented as a modular Excel-based tool allowing users to input data, conduct pairwise comparisons, evaluate alternatives using linguistic scales, and generate a final ranking through defuzzification. A case study in a private construction company showed Training and Development and Work Environment as top priorities. An online expert focus group confirmed the DST’s clarity, usability, and strategic relevance. By addressing the often-neglected social pillar of sustainability, this tool offers a practical and transparent framework to support decision-making, ultimately enhancing employee well-being and organizational performance in the construction sector.

Keywords: social sustainability; decision support tool; multi-criteria decision-making; AHP; Fuzzy MOORA; construction sector; employee well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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