An overall assessment of multi-criteria decision support system framework in the context of sustainability

Sustainability aims to reduce the negative impacts on economic development, the environment, and social factors. It has become a critical goal for many organisations, businesses, governments, and policymakers worldwide. However, achieving sustainability depends on different approaches. Solutions that are good for the environment may adversely affect the economy, and vice versa. This manuscript examines the decision support systems in the context of sustainability and highlights their advantages in assessing and choosing sustainable solutions. It also considers the processes involved in developing decision-support system frameworks. The study reveals that most decision support system frameworks in the context of sustainability are built using multi-criteria decision techniques. It also revealed that the numbers and types of sustainability assessment criteria significantly influence the reliability and effectiveness of the decision-making process on choosing the most “sustainable” solution.