Building resilient product portfolios in B2B manufacturing: A multi-criteria decision-making framework for managing disruptive factors

This study develops a methodologically grounded decision-support framework for product portfolio management (PPM) in manufacturing business-to-business (B2B) firms, aimed at systematically addressing the growing challenges posed by disruptive change, particularly those arising from digital and sustainable transformations. A preliminary study and systematic literature review reveal that current evaluation approaches fall short in addressing these emerging challenges. To address this gap, the proposed PPM-specific framework integrates established multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods: the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), and the weighted sum model (WSM). In addition to the three established PPM target dimensions – value maximization, strategic fit, and balance – the proposed methodology introduces a fourth dimension: resilience to disruptive factors. This expanded framework enables a structured derivation and weighting of evaluation criteria, identification of interdependencies within the product portfolio, and a systematic assessment of the strategic value contribution of individual portfolio elements. A case study with a global automation technology provider and evaluation workshops with three additional globally operating B2B industrial firms demonstrate the framework's practical relevance. The results indicate enhanced transparency, more objective decision-making, and systematic portfolio governance. This research contributes a formal and transparent decision support tool that facilitates strategically robust portfolio design in times of disruptive transformation, thereby addressing critical gaps in existing literature.