PONE-D-22-33442A hybrid MCDM model combining Fuzzy-Delphi, AEW, BWM, and MARCOS for digital economy development comprehensive evaluation of 31 provincial level regions in ChinaPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Zhao,

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: Manuscript title: A hybrid MCDM model combining Fuzzy-Delphi, AEW, BWM, and MARCOS for digital economy development comprehensive evaluation of 31 provincial level regions in China.

The manuscript is well organized and the contents fit with the journal’s topics. The methodology is well described and applied. I give recognition to the authors for their very high-quality work.

I suggest some minor paper corrections:

. The authors used modern methods in their work. I think it would be good to expand the literature analysis and show the application of these methods (AEW, BWM, MARCOS) in some other research, such as: Bakir, M., Akan, Ş., Özdemir, E. (2021) regional aircraft selection with fuzzy PIPRECIA and fuzzy MARCOS: A case study of the Turkish airline industry. Facta Universitatis, Series: Mechanical Engineering, 19(3), 423-445, doi:https://doi.org/10.22190/FUME210505053B; Torğul, B., Demiralay, E., & Paksoy, T. (2022). Training aircraft selection for department of flight training in fuzzy environment. Decision Making: Applications in Management and Engineering, 5(1), 264-289. https://doi.org/10.31181/dmame0311022022t; Fazlollahtabar, H., Kazemitash, N. (2021). Green supplier selection based on the information system performance evaluation using the integrated best-worst method. Facta Universitatis, Series: Mechanical Engineering, 19(3), 345-360. doi:https://doi.org/10.22190/FUME201125029F. In this way, the authors would confirm the quality of the methods they used in their work.

. I think the best place for figure 1 is between the title of section 2 and the subtitle of section 2.1. Of course, this figure should be accompanied by at least one paragraph of text explaining the figure and announcing the description of the methods.

. In conclusion, several clear directions for further research should be given.

Reviewer #2: The paper A hybrid MCDM model combining Fuzzy-Delphi, AEW, BWM, and MARCOS for digital economy development comprehensive evaluation of 31 provincial level regions in China falls within the scope of the journal PONE and represented a very interesting study with strong and recently developed approaches.

Structure of the paper is well with clear explanations. The authors have made integration of different approaches into one unique model. Definitely, the paper deserves attention due to having great potential to be published.

The paper should be improved according to following suggestions:

- Literature review should be a separate section.

- The follwoing reference should be added:

1) Stević, Ž., Subotić, M., Softić, E., & Božić, B. (2022). Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model for Evaluating Safety of Road Sections, J. Intell. Manag. Decis., 1(2), 78-87. https://doi.org/10.56578/jimd010201

2) Kar, B., Mohapatra, B., Kar, S., & Tripathy, S. (2022). Small and Medium Enterprise Debt Decision: A Best-Worst Method Framework. Operational Research in Engineering Sciences: Theory and Applications.

3) Bakır, M., & Atalık, Ö. (2021). Application of fuzzy AHP and fuzzy MARCOS approach for the evaluation of e-service quality in the airline industry. Decision Making: Applications in Management and Engineering, 4(1), 127-152.

- Error! Reference source not found. Page 11 should be corrected.

- Explain reasons for the integration of these approaches in a unique model.

- Table 2 should be smaller. Now is out of margins.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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A hybrid MCDM model combining Fuzzy-Delphi, AEW, BWM, and MARCOS for digital economy development comprehensive evaluation of 31 provincial level regions in China

PONE-D-22-33442R1

Dear Dr. Zhao,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

Dragan Pamucar

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. If the authors have adequately addressed your comments raised in a previous round of review and you feel that this manuscript is now acceptable for publication, you may indicate that here to bypass the “Comments to the Author” section, enter your conflict of interest statement in the “Confidential to Editor” section, and submit your "Accept" recommendation.

Reviewer #1: All comments have been addressed

Reviewer #2: All comments have been addressed

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2. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

3. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

4. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

5. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

6. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: All the reviewers' comments have been addressed carefully and sufficiently. The revisions are rational from my point of view. I think the current version of the paper can be accepted.

Reviewer #2: The paper has been improved. Not of all my comments are adopted, but almost all, so my recommendation is to accept the paper.

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7. PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy.

Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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