Model for Innovation Project Selection Supported by Multi-Criteria Methods Considering Sustainability Parameters

Abstract

Innovation projects with sustainable characteristics are increasingly seen as strategic drivers for organizations to expand market share and retain customers. Yet, firms face limited resources while dealing with many potential projects. To address this challenge, an integrated framework for evaluating and ranking innovation projects using sustainability-related factors can support more consistent decision-making. Although several models for project selection exist in the literature, few provide a comprehensive approach that incorporates sustainability criteria. This study proposes a model for selecting innovation projects by explicitly considering sustainability aspects, supported by multi-criteria decision support methods. The methodological approach followed the Design Cycle method, grounded in Design Science Research. The main result is a novel, customizable model for evaluating, ranking, and managing innovation projects within a sustainability-oriented context. The model was validated through application in two high-performance organizations recognized for their innovation and sustainability practices. Additionally, this research offered reflections on how sustainability-driven innovation can be implemented in practice. Overall, the findings demonstrated that the proposed model is adaptable to different organizational realities, sectors, and sizes, enhancing the capacity to assess and understand the role of sustainability in innovation projects more effectively.