Green, resilient, and inclusive supplier selection using enhanced BWM-TOPSIS with scenario-varying Z-numbers and reversed PageRank

Abstract

Firms need a reliable decision-making framework to select suppliers who are Green, Resilient, and embrace Inclusive Development (GRID). However, GRID supplier selection is challenged by events that are uncertain and often dependent. Such events affect supplier rankings in a fuzzy decision environment. This paper builds a GRID-based criteria system and applies an enhanced Best Worst Method (BWM) and Technique for Order Preferencing using the Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), with Scenario-Varying Z-numbers (SVZs) and reversed PageRank. The decision criteria are extracted from the literature and confirmed by expert judgement. The SVZs and SVZ Preference Relations (SVZPRs) are developed by combining the Concept of Stratification Theory (CST) with Z-numbers, to reflect the impact of Dependent Uncertain Events (DUEs). Reverse PageRank is then used to find the occurrence probability of the scenarios due to DUEs. BWM is applied in an SVZPR environment to obtain the weights of the decision criteria. TOPSIS, incorporating SVZs, is used to rank the suppliers. An example is used to highlight the enhanced BWM-TOPSIS, to find the priority ranking of the GRID weights. Comparative and sensitivity analyses are conducted to validate the proposed method.