Mapping the institutional, organizational, and technological enablers of sustainable decision making in a global society

This study examines the key enablers of Sustainable Business Intelligence (SBI), which integrates traditional business intelligence (BI) with sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives to support green decision-making. While BI has traditionally focused on efficiency and competitive advantage, increasing sustainability demands require a broader, data-driven approach. To address this, the study employs the Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (Fuzzy DEMATEL) method, based on expert evaluations from a panel of 16 professionals (6 academics, 7 industry practitioners, and 3 policy specialists) across academia, industry, and policy domains, to analyze causal relationships among eight SBI enablers. The causal analysis, based on prominence (D + R) and relation (D-R) metrics, reveals that Regulatory & ESG Compliance (D-R = + 1.80), Stakeholder Pressure (+ 1.02), and Top Management Support (+ 0.92) act as primary driving factors, whereas Data Transparency (D- R = -2.39) and Advanced Analytics (-1.82) function as dependent outcomes. Notably, Green IT Infrastructure also appears as a driver (+ 0.53), suggesting that technological factors can play an initiating role under certain conditions. These findings indicate that SBI adoption is driven by institutional pressures and leadership commitment rather than technological capabilities alone. The study contributes by providing a causal framework for SBI implementation and offers a phased, practical roadmap for managers to prioritize governance and leadership before investing in technological solutions, thereby supporting organizations and policymakers in advancing sustainability-oriented decision-making aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).