Developing a Challenge-Driven Project Management Framework for Sustainable Development: An MCDM-Based Evaluation and Prioritization Approach

This study develops a Challenge-Driven Project Management (CDPM) framework for sustainable development by integrating two advanced Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods DEMATEL and ANP to evaluate and prioritize sustainability challenges in project environments. Five sustainability criteria (economic, environmental, social, governance, and technological adaptability) and ten sub-criteria were identified through extensive literature review and expert consultation. Data collected from 20 domain experts were processed using DEMATEL to determine causal interdependencies and ANP to derive global weights. Findings reveal that Project Governance (C4) and Technological Adaptability (C5) function as dominant causal enablers influencing Environmental Sustainability, Economic Feasibility, and Social Responsibility. Among the five sustainability challenges evaluated, Budget Constraints for Green Initiatives (A2) and Limited Access to Green Technologies (A5) ranked as the most critical barriers. Based on these insights, the study proposes a CDPM framework that integrates causal relationships, priority weights, and iterative feedback mechanisms to support decision-makers in addressing systemic sustainability challenges. The framework was validated through expert review and a pilot simulation, demonstrating its applicability across construction, manufacturing, and energy sectors. The study concludes with recommendations for policy, managerial practice, and future research, emphasizing the need for adaptive governance, technological innovation, and advanced MCDM-based decision-support tools.