Strategic Human Capital Management in Engineering Workplaces: A Fuzzy Logic-Based Decision Framework

Abstract

Strategic human capital (HC) management is a key driver of organizational success, particularly in highly technical fields such as engineering. This study presents an innovative approach to human resource (HR) decision-making by applying fuzzy logic to evaluate and prioritize HC opportunities. Through a structured survey of 70 experts from industry and academia, the most critical HC opportunities were identified and analyzed based on their impact on project objectives and the likelihood of organizational adoption. Using a Mamdani fuzzy inference system (FIS) developed in MATLAB, this research provides a data-driven framework for optimizing HR strategies. The results highlight that factors such as a ‘‘favorable work environment’’ and ‘‘effective internal communication’’ are essential for project success, as they directly influence talent retention, productivity, and organizational alignment. Given that project performance is a cornerstone of organizational competitiveness, the strategic management of HC emerges as vital for ensuring both project excellence and sustained business success. This study provides HR professionals with a systematic, scalable model that strengthens strategic decision-making, optimizes workforce management, and promotes evidence-based leadership in specialized industries. This study underlines that robust strategic HC management is not only essential for high-impact project outcomes, but also for achieving sustained organizational success.