Evaluating ICT Project Sustainability Using Business Intelligence and Fuzzy AHP
Abstract
This study explores persistent sustainability challenges in ICT projects despite the widespread availability of project management tools. A mixed-method approach combining inspections, observations, and a structured questionnaire was used to evaluate the six key framework attributes drawn from existing literature. The rating response from the experienced and professional ICT projects field experts, which were based on a three-point scale, were further analyzed using Microsoft’s MicroStrategy dashboard (BI). The rating outcomes predominantly revealed the outcome as follows: Value Proposition (100% - agree), Strategy (92% - agree), Governance (92% - agree), Environmental Risk Assessment (50% disagree, but 42% agree), Time Management (83% - neutral, but 17% agreed), and Resource Capacity (92% - neutral, but 8% agreed). Subsequently, Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (F-AHP) model was applied to determine the relative priority of each attribute/factor. The usage of MS MicroStrategy dashboards (BI) enabled transparent visualization of expert ratings, while F-AHP provided structured prioritization and consistency validation through Saaty’s 10% rule. The integration of BI and F-AHP resulted in a study’s VSGETR framework which offers a scalable, data-driven model tailored to public sector governance, bridging strategic objectives with operational execution. Findings in this study suggest that embedding this framework into project policies and evaluation checklists can significantly improve sustainability oversight and resource monitoring in ICT initiatives.
Downloads
References
K. N. Pillay, “e-Government in South Africa: Predictors to failure and success,” M.S. thesis, Fac. Eng. Built Environ., Univ. Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg, South Africa, 2012.
D. Kadewandana and R. A. W. Kaligis, “The role of information and communication technology (ICT) in e-government: A literature review of sustainable development aspects,” CoverAge J. Strategic Commun., vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 91–101, 2024.
B. A. Colbert and E. C. Kurucz, “Three conceptions of triple bottom line business sustainability and the role for HRM,” Hum. Resour. Plan., vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 21–29, Jan. 2007, doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-46781-4_1.
A. Andersson and A. Grönlund, “A conceptual framework for e-learning in developing countries: A critical review of research challenges,” Electron. J. Inf. Syst. Dev. Ctries., vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 1–16, Jul. 2009, doi: 10.1002/j.1681-4835.2009.tb00271.x.
A. H. Smith and J. D. McKeen, “Developments in practice VII: Developing and delivering the IT value proposition,” Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst., vol. 11, no. 25, pp. 438–450, Mar. 2003.
R. Cullen and G. Hassall, Eds., Achieving Sustainable E-Government in Pacific Island States, vol. 27. n.p.: n.p., 2017.
S. Negash, “Business intelligence,” Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 177–195, Jan. 2004.
A. E. Shouki, “An exploratory study of ICT projects failure in emerging markets,” J. Global Inf. Technol. Manag., vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 139–160, Apr. 2018, doi: 10.1080/1097198X.2018.1462071.
O. Kostoska and L. Kocarev, “Novelty ICT framework for sustainable development goals,” Sustainability, vol. 11, Art. no. 1961, 2019, doi: 10.3390/su11071961.
M. Turpin, “Assessing South African ICT4D research outputs: A journal review,” S. Afr. Comput. J., vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 108–127, Jul. 2018, doi: 10.18489/sacj.v30i1.541.
C. Pade-Khene, B. Mallinson, and D. Sewry, “Sustainable rural ICT project management practice for developing countries: Investigating the Dwesa and RUMEP projects,” Inf. Technol. Dev., vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 187–212, Jun. 2011.
A. Andersson and M. Hatakka, “ICT4D and the sustainable development goals: A road well-traveled,” Inf. Technol. Dev., vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 1–8, 2023.
T. Santarius and J. Wagner, “Digital and sustainability: A systematic literature analysis of ICT for sustainability research,” GAIA, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 21–32, 2023, doi: 10.14512/gaia.32.S1.5.
A. J. G. Silvius, J. van den Brink, and J. Smit, “Sustainability in information and communications technology (ICT) projects,” Commun. IIMA, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 33–34, 2009, doi: 10.58729/1941-6687.1100.
B. C. Henry, “ICT for sustainability development,” Sci. Technol., vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 142–145, Sep. 2012, doi: 10.5923/j.scit.20120205.06.
M. E. Porter and M. R. Kramer, “Strategy and society: The link between competitive advantage and corporate social responsibility,” Harv. Bus. Rev., vol. 84, no. 12, pp. 1–9, Dec. 2006.
C. Pade, B. Mallinson, and D. Sewry, “An elaboration of critical success factors for rural ICT project sustainability in developing countries: Exploring the DWESA case,” J. Inf. Technol. Case Appl. Res., vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 32–55, Oct. 2008, doi: 10.1080/15228053.2008.10856146.
Dept. Public Service and Administration (DPSA), Republic of South Africa, Public Service Corporate Governance of Information and Communication Technology Policy Framework, pp. 1–37, Dec. 2012.
V. Dao, I. Langella, and J. Carbo, “From green to sustainability: Information technology and an integrated sustainability framework,” J. Strategic Inf. Syst., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 63–79, Feb. 2011.
L. Hilty, W. Lohmann, and E. M. Huang, “Sustainability and ICT—An overview of the field,” Notizie di POLITEIA, vol. 27, no. 104, pp. 13–28, Jun. 2011.
J. Meurer, C. Müller, C. Simone, I. Wagner, and V. Wulf, “Designing for sustainability: Key issues of ICT projects for ageing at home,” Comput. Support. Coop. Work, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 495–537, Dec. 2018.
S. S. Rad, “Critical success factors (CSFs) in strategic planning for information systems,” J. Appl. Environ. Biol. Sci., vol. 5, no. 6, pp. 334–339, Feb. 2015.
L. Hosman and E. Fife, “Improving the prospects of sustainable ICT projects in developing world,” Int. J. Media Cult. Polit., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 51–69, Jan. 2008, doi: 10.1386/macp.4.1.51/1.
S. Walther, A. Plank, T. Eymann, N. Singh, and G. Phadke, “Success factors and value propositions of software as a service providers—A literature review and classification,” in Proc. AMCIS, Seattle, WA, USA, Aug. 9–12, 2012, pp. 1–14.
G. Y. Sönmez and F. C. Sönmez, “Ranking the criteria effective in the selection of e-learning system by fuzzy AHP (F-AHP) method,” J. Theor. Educ. Sci., vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 749–768, 2023.
M. S. Dwi Putra, S. Andryana, U. Fauziah, and A. Gunaryati, “Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process method to determine the quality of gemstones,” Adv. Fuzzy Syst., 2018, Art. no. 9094380, doi: 10.1155/2018/9094380.
J. L. Salmeron and I. Herrero, “An AHP-based methodology to rank critical success factors of executive information systems,” Comput. Stand. Interfaces, vol. 28, no. 1, Jul. 2005, doi: 10.1016/j.csi.2004.09.002.
F. Hosseinzadeh Lotfi, T. Allahviranloo, W. Pedrycz, M. Shahriari, H. Sharafi, and S. Razipour GhalehJough, “Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in fuzzy environment,” in Fuzzy Decision Analysis: Multi Attribute Decision Making Approach, Stud. Comput. Intell., vol. 1121. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2023, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-44742-6_8.
Q. F. F. Safiesza, L. M. Sari, M. Yogi, A. A. Sunarya, M. N. Farras, and M. F. Evizal, “Using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process methods in criteria and alternatives perspective for ranking,” Indones. J. Appl. Technol. Innov. Sci., vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 61–67, 2024.
T. Lange, C. Kopkow, C. Lützner, et al., “Comparison of different rating scales for the use in Delphi studies: Different scales lead to different consensus and show different test-retest reliability,” BMC Med. Res. Methodol., vol. 20, Art. no. 28, 2020, doi: 10.1186/s12874-020-0912-8.
Abstract views: 166 times
Download PDF: 88 times
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Information Systems and Informatics

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- I certify that I have read, understand and agreed to the Journal of Information Systems and Informatics (Journal-ISI) submission guidelines, policies and submission declaration. Submission already using the provided template.
- I certify that all authors have approved the publication of this and there is no conflict of interest.
- I confirm that the manuscript is the authors' original work and the manuscript has not received prior publication and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere and has not been previously published.
- I confirm that all authors listed on the title page have contributed significantly to the work, have read the manuscript, attest to the validity and legitimacy of the data and its interpretation, and agree to its submission.
- I confirm that the paper now submitted is not copied or plagiarized version of some other published work.
- I declare that I shall not submit the paper for publication in any other Journal or Magazine till the decision is made by journal editors.
- If the paper is finally accepted by the journal for publication, I confirm that I will either publish the paper immediately or withdraw it according to withdrawal policies
- I Agree that the paper published by this journal, I transfer copyright or assign exclusive rights to the publisher (including commercial rights)














