Analyzing AHP-based prioritization of strategic planning factors using social network analysis
Journal
European Business Review
Publisher
Emerald
Date Issued
2026-05-06
Type
Article
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the underlying relational structure in the prioritization of factors that may influence strategic planning, to identify patterns that affect the achievement of consensus among organizational actors.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a multi-methodological approach, combining three techniques: 1) the analytic hierarchy process to prioritize factors that can improve strategic planning; 2) social network analysis to contrast its results and assess whether the relational structure affects consensus; 3) robust linear regression (HC3) to estimate the relationship between network structure and proximity to consensus.
Findings
The results suggest that the highest-priority factors for promoting sales improvement are commitment, plan development and organizational culture. In relational terms, the study observes that a relevant mechanism for consensus is homophily, governed by operational functions; that is, process improvements, such as sales, benefit those who perform similar tasks rather than heterogeneity.
Research limitations/implications
This work is limited to organizational aspects. The study was conducted in collaboration with a Mexican commercial company, in which 110 of 150 employees responded (3 executive managers, 8 managers and 99 operational staff), with an average of 5 years of experience. Although the data analyzed are individual judgments, the inference is at the organizational level, to understand the whole and its relationships with the parts.
Practical implications
This work can help academics and professionals allocate resources more effectively, adopt more equitable deliberation processes, and reduce the unintended dominance of any actor in organizational processes.
Originality/value
This work contrasts with previous research by proposing a systemic perspective to prioritize factors that can improve critical processes and to understand how group preferences are affected by the structural position of actors. Therefore, this study invites the adoption of methodological complementarity to improve group decision-making processes.
This study aims to analyze the underlying relational structure in the prioritization of factors that may influence strategic planning, to identify patterns that affect the achievement of consensus among organizational actors.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a multi-methodological approach, combining three techniques: 1) the analytic hierarchy process to prioritize factors that can improve strategic planning; 2) social network analysis to contrast its results and assess whether the relational structure affects consensus; 3) robust linear regression (HC3) to estimate the relationship between network structure and proximity to consensus.
Findings
The results suggest that the highest-priority factors for promoting sales improvement are commitment, plan development and organizational culture. In relational terms, the study observes that a relevant mechanism for consensus is homophily, governed by operational functions; that is, process improvements, such as sales, benefit those who perform similar tasks rather than heterogeneity.
Research limitations/implications
This work is limited to organizational aspects. The study was conducted in collaboration with a Mexican commercial company, in which 110 of 150 employees responded (3 executive managers, 8 managers and 99 operational staff), with an average of 5 years of experience. Although the data analyzed are individual judgments, the inference is at the organizational level, to understand the whole and its relationships with the parts.
Practical implications
This work can help academics and professionals allocate resources more effectively, adopt more equitable deliberation processes, and reduce the unintended dominance of any actor in organizational processes.
Originality/value
This work contrasts with previous research by proposing a systemic perspective to prioritize factors that can improve critical processes and to understand how group preferences are affected by the structural position of actors. Therefore, this study invites the adoption of methodological complementarity to improve group decision-making processes.