Uncovering the academic evolution of VIKOR method: a comprehensive main path analysis

Abstract

The rapid advancement of the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method has led to a substantial body of related literature. Reviewing and extracting the academic trajectory can be challenging, as conventional literature review studies and bibliometric approaches may prove ineffective. This paper proposes a comprehensive main path analysis (MPA) framework to unveil the knowledge structure within the field of VIKOR. By integrating global MPA, local MPA, and key-route MPA, this study reveals the significant developmental process and pivotal papers in the VIKOR domain. Employing multiple global main paths offers a more holistic understanding of the knowledge evolution network in VIKOR, enabling deeper exploration of research frontiers. To our knowledge, this is the first study to conduct an extensive MPA in the field of VIKOR, providing novel insights for scholars interested in comprehending VIKOR and inspiring future research.

Keywords:

• VIKOR
• main path analysis
• academic evolution
• knowledge structure
• research fronts

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Acknowledgements

This manuscript was supported by the Ministry of Education of Humanities and Social Science Project (No. 19YJC630208).