Exploration and prioritization of enablers to organization work–family balance planning for working sole Indian mothers integrating fuzzy Delphi and AHP

Abstract

Purpose This study intends to identify, prioritize and rank the enablers for organizational work–family balance (WFB) planning specifically for working sole mothers by employing the fuzzy Delphi and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method. Design/methodology/approach This paper utilizes the integrated methodology in two steps. Initially, a broad literature review and the fuzzy Delphi method have been utilized to recognize and validate the key WFB enablers. Afterward, the AHP approach has been applied to prioritize and detect the relative importance and rank of identified WFB enablers. Findings This paper has identified 9 WFB sub-enablers for working sole mothers under work, family and personal enablers. The work enablers obtain the first rank based on the highest importance weight followed by personal and family enablers. The findings indicate the top five sub-enablers: organizational work–family culture, work from arrangements, emotional intelligence, flexible work schedule and family support. Research limitations/implications The findings offer prioritized areas of concern to the human resource managers and administrators to manage these WFB enablers as per their priority in the direction to formulate the organizational WFB policy-planning specifically for sole mothers. Social implications The prioritized WFB enablers amongst working sole mothers may help sole mothers to manage their social, family and work-related roles in a more effective manner. Originality/value Based on the best of the authors' considerations, this study firstly incorporates the fuzzy Delphi-AHP method to prioritize and rank the WFB enablers to organizational WFB planning for sole mothers.