International Journal of Finance & Managerial Accounting

International Journal of Finance & Managerial Accounting

Prioritizing Digital Sustainability Reporting Indicators in Platform-Based Companies: A Sequential Mixed-Methods Approach Using Fuzzy MCDM and fsQCA

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Alireza Eshghi
Ehsan rahmaninia
Malek Taj Maleki Oskouei
Ali Akbar Chaharmahali
Department of Accounting, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/ijfma.2026.79120.2361
Abstract
Digital sustainability reporting, integrating digital technologies into ESG disclosure processes, has emerged as a key mechanism to enhance data accuracy, comparability, and timeliness. However, prioritizing and weighting relevant ESG indicators remains a significant challenge, particularly for platform-based companies in emerging economies characterized by data-intensive models and regulatory uncertainty
Addressing this gap, this study employs a sequential mixed-methods approach to systematically prioritize digital sustainability reporting indicators for platform-based companies in Iran. The research integrates Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques—including Fuzzy DEMATEL, Fuzzy Best-Worst Method (BWM), Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (ANP), and Fuzzy VIKOR—with fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). Expert judgments from ten industry specialists were collected and analyzed.
Findings identify economic barriers, XBRL adoption, and digital accounting infrastructure as the most influential causal drivers and highest-weighted criteria. Fuzzy VIKOR results designate Strategy A—emphasizing phased digital infrastructure investment and standardization—as the optimal compromise solution. Furthermore, fsQCA reveals three equifinal pathways to successful implementation: a technological path, a governance-environmental path, and a hybrid practical path.The study contributes a robust, context-sensitive framework for prioritizing digital sustainability indicators. It offers actionable insights for managers and policymakers, highlighting the need to address economic and technological constraints while enabling flexible, multi-path implementation approaches tailored to platform-based business models in emerging digital economies
Keywords
Digital Sustainability Reporting
Platform-Based Companies
ESG Indicators
Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM)
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International Journal of Finance & Managerial Accounting

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 16 June 2026