A Neutrosophic DEMATEL Framework with MSM Aggregation for Evaluating Food Security Factors

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods for evaluating complex systems often face challenges in effectively addressing uncertainty, indeterminacy and interdependencies among factors, particularly in decision-makers (DMs) based assessments. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a hybrid framework that integrates the Neutrosophic Set (NS) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method with the Maclaurin Symmetric Mean (MSM) aggregation operator. The MSM operator accounts for the symmetric interrelationships among expert evaluations, enabling more robust and consistent aggregation compared to traditional techniques. The proposed method is applied to a case study on food security (FdS) which is a study characterized by multidimensional and interrelated factors. By combining the strengths of NS and MSM aggregation within the DEMATEL framework, the model yields clearer causal structures and more reliable prioritisation of influencing factors. This facilitates improved strategic planning and policy development in complex and uncertain environments. The integration of MSM into NS-DEMATEL represents a methodological enhancement in MCDM under uncertainty, offering practical value for enhancing FdS strategies and supporting broader sustainable development objectives.