PROJECT PRIORITIZATION MATRIX: A BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE AND MULTICRITERIA EVALUATION APPROACH AT SEBRAE/RN

Article Sidebar

PDF (Português (Brasil)) XML (Português (Brasil))
Published: Dec 30, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29073/e3.v11i2.1033
Keywords:
Business Intelligence Multicriteria Evaluation Performance Indicators Project Portfolio Management Strategic Alignment

Main Article Content

José Alfredo Ferreira Costa
a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:4:"UFRN";}
Alinne Priscilla Dantas da Silva
SEBRAE/RN
Ana Maria Fonseca Ubarana
SEBRAE/RN
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2962-4931
Maiza Pinheiro Dantas
UFRN
David Xavier de Souza Góis
SEBRAE/RN

Abstract

In a data-driven decision-making context, organizations that manage project portfolios face the challenge of prioritizing initiatives in a transparent, objective, and reproducible manner. This article presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a project prioritization matrix supported by Business Intelligence (BI) and multicriteria assessment, applied to SEBRAE/RN. A Design Science Research approach is adopted, using a mixed-methods strategy that combines analysis of historical data from 15 sectoral projects (2022–2024) with qualitative insights from 52 managers, obtained through interviews, workshops, and document analysis. Based on seven key performance indicators, a weighted matrix is constructed in which revenue growth and strategic alignment receive the highest weights, complemented by metrics of outreach, efficiency, and sustainability. The entire assessment process is automated in an interactive BI dashboard, enabling near real-time, standardized analysis aligned with institutional guidelines. The results indicate gains in operational efficiency, increased analytical maturity in portfolio management, and a stronger alignment between the project portfolio and the organization’s strategic priorities. The study delivers a replicable artifact that integrates MCDA and BI in an organizational context and provides guidelines for adapting the framework in other development and funding institutions.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Costa, J. A. F., Silva, A. P. D. da ., Ubarana, A. M. F. ., Dantas, M. P. ., & Góis, D. X. de S. . (2025). PROJECT PRIORITIZATION MATRIX: A BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE AND MULTICRITERIA EVALUATION APPROACH AT SEBRAE/RN. E3 — Revista De Economia, Empresas E Empreendedores Na CPLP, 11(2), 31–52. https://doi.org/10.29073/e3.v11i2.1033
Issue
Vol. 11 No. 2 (2025): V.11 N.2 (E3 - Revista de Economia, Empresas e Empreendedores na CPLP)
Section
Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

All articles published in e3 – Journal of Economics, Business and Entrepreneurship in the community of Portuguese-speaking countries are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.

This license allows users to share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) for any purpose, including commercial use, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and the journal, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are indicated.

Author Biographies

José Alfredo Ferreira Costa, a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:4:"UFRN";}

.

 

Alinne Priscilla Dantas da Silva, SEBRAE/RN

Alinne Priscilla Dantas da Silva is a professional who works as an analyst at the Support Service for Micro and Small Businesses of Rio Grande do Norte (SEBRAE-RN). She has a career focused on management and accounting, contributing to the development of small businesses in the state.

 

Education and Career:

Undergraduate Degree: She holds a degree in Accounting Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), completed in 2002.

Postgraduate Degree: She has an MBA in Business Management from the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), completed in 2009.

Professional Experience: At SEBRAE-RN, Alinne Priscilla holds the position of analyst. Her records indicate that she was previously part of the institution's Strategic Management Unit (UGE) team.

 

Academic Work: She is also the author of a dissertation on the analysis of project performance indicators, focusing on the case of SEBRAE/RN, presented in 2014 in the UFRN institutional repository.

 

Their role is related to strategic and management functions within the organization, as evidenced in management reports and official documents from SEBRAE-RN.

Alinne Priscilla Dantas da Silva is a professional who works as an analyst at the Support Service for Micro and Small Businesses of Rio Grande do Norte (SEBRAE-RN). She has a career focused on management and accounting, contributing to the development of small businesses in the state.

Education and Career:
Undergraduate Degree: She holds a degree in Accounting Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), completed in 2002.
Postgraduate Degree: She has an MBA in Business Management from the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), completed in 2009.
Professional Experience: At SEBRAE-RN, Alinne Priscilla holds the position of analyst. Her records indicate that she was previously part of the institution's Strategic Management Unit (UGE) team.

Academic Work: She is also the author of a dissertation on the analysis of project performance indicators, focusing on the case of SEBRAE/RN, presented in 2014 in the UFRN institutional repository.

Their role is related to strategic and management functions within the organization, as evidenced in management reports and official documents from SEBRAE-RN.

Ana Maria Fonseca Ubarana, SEBRAE/RN

Ana Maria Fonseca Ubarana is an analyst at the Serviço de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas do Rio Grande do Norte (SEBRAE-RN), where she also works as a project manager.  Her professional background includes:
  • A degree in Administration.
  • Specializations in Financial Management and Small Business Management.
  • Experience in fostering micro and small businesses in international trade, which was the focus of her course conclusion work at the Faculdade de Ciências Cultura e Extensão do Rio Grande do Norte.
  • Representing SEBRAE-RN as a substitute member on councils and commissions, such as those related to the Lei Aldir Blanc in Natal and the State Council of Labor, Housing and Social Assistance

Maiza Pinheiro Dantas, UFRN

Maiza Pinheiro Dantas is associated with SEBRAE-RN, where she has been mentioned as a consultant and linked to the Metropolitan Regional Office.  Here is some information regarding her role and background at the institution:
  • Role: She has served as a consultant for Sebrae, notably giving presentations on topics such as "Market Intelligence" (Inteligência de Mercado) at events like Expofruit.
  • Affiliation: Records from Sebrae/RN management reports list her as associated with the institution's staff, specifically within the Metropolitan Regional Office (Escritório Regional Metropolitano).
  • Tenure: Public records, such as transparency reports, indicate she has been a staff member since at least February 2013. 
General information about her specific educational background or a detailed personal biography is not publicly available in the provided sources. SEBRAE (Serviço de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas) is a private, non-profit organization in Brazil that assists small businesses.

David Xavier de Souza Góis, SEBRAE/RN

David Xavier de Souza Góis is an employee of the SEBRAE in Rio Grande do Norte (SEBRAE-RN), holding key positions related to innovation and technology. He is known for his work in the local innovation ecosystem and for representing the institution in various councils and events.  Key information includes:
  • Role at SEBRAE-RN: He has held several positions, including Manager of the Business, Innovation, and Technology Unit (Unidade de Negócios, Inovação e Tecnologia) and Director of Market and Technology (Diretor de Mercado e Tecnologia). He is also listed as the titular representative for SEBRAE/RN in official municipal planning committees.
  • Expertise: His work involves fostering innovation, digital transformation in retail, and developing the local startup ecosystem in Natal and the wider state of Rio Grande do Norte.
  • Collaboration: He frequently collaborates with public and private entities, such as the Natal City Hall (Prefeitura Municipal do Natal), UFRN (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte), and FAPERN (Foundation for Research Support of the State of RN), to promote the development of micro and small enterprises.
  • Education: He has a background in academic research, including work related to customer relationship management and the use of technology for business engagement.
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

References

Belton, V., & Stewart, T. J. (2002). Multiple criteria decision analysis: An integrated approach. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1495-4

Brynjolfsson, E., & McAfee, A. (2014). The second machine age: Work, progress, and prosperity in a time of brilliant technologies. W. W. Norton & Company. https://dl.acm.org/doi/book/10.5555/2635954

Costa, I. S. G., Costa, J. A. F., & Cavalcanti Nóbrega, K. (2018). Desenvolvimento de modelo de balanced scorecard para instituições privadas de ensino fundamental e médio. Revista Produção Online, 18(4), 1181–1205. https://doi.org/10.14488/1676-1901.v18i4.2737

Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). SAGE.

Danesh, D., Ryan, M. J., & Abbasi, A. (2018). Multi-criteria decision-making methods for project portfolio management: A literature review. International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 17(1), 75–94. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMDM.2018.090667

Fernandes Neto, A. P., da Silva, G. S., Pinheiro, F. S. R., Mattozo, T. C., & Costa, J. A. F. (2022). Application of multivariate statistical techniques in the analysis of the management of performance indicators of fixed broadband communication networks. In Themes focused on interdisciplinarity and sustainable development worldwide (Vol. 1). Seven Editora. https://sevenpubl.com.br/editora/article/view/787

Hevner, A. R., March, S. T., Park, J., & Ram, S. (2004). Design science in information systems research. MIS Quarterly, 28(1), 75–105. https://doi.org/10.2307/25148625

Imai, M. (1986). Kaizen: The key to Japan’s competitive success. McGraw-Hill.

Marques, A. C., Frej, E. A., & de Almeida, A. T. (2022). Multicriteria decision support for project portfolio selection with the FITradeoff method. Omega, 111, 102661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omega.2022.102661

Maurya, A. (2012). Running lean: Iterate from plan A to a plan that works (2nd ed.). O’Reilly Media.

Neely, A., Adams, C., & Kennerley, M. (2002). The performance prism: The scorecard for measuring and managing business success. Pearson Education.

Project Management Institute. (2017). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK® guide) (6th ed.). Project Management Institute. https://trainupinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Project-Management-Institute-A-Guide-to-the-Project-Management-Body-of-Knowledge-PMBOK%C2%AE-Guide%E2%80%93Sixth-Edition-Project-Management-Institute-2017.pdf

Peffers, K., Tuunanen, T., Rothenberger, M. A., & Chatterjee, S. (2007). A design science research methodology for information systems research. Journal of Management Information Systems, 24(3), 45–77. https://doi.org/10.2753/MIS0742-1222240302

Turban, E., Sharda, R., & Delen, D. (2011). Decision support and business intelligence systems (9th ed.). Pearson. https://archive.org/details/DSandBI9edTurban