Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Amaçları
Yayınlar
- MakaleAçık Erişim2026Critical Success Factors for Building Resilience in Circular Supply Chains of Electric Vehicle Batteries: Evidence from an Emerging Country
Erol, Ismail; Oztel, Ahmet; Peker, Iskender; Ar, Ilker Murat; Searcy, Cory
Given the global expansion of electric vehicles (EVs), decision makers in developing and emerging countries must address important challenges across EV battery supply chains (EVBSCs) toward circularity. For example, batteries usually make up about 40% of an EVs’ value, and the race to achieve net zero emissions will further underscore the critical need for vital minerals and metals, such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite, necessary to make batteries. Stakeholders routinely question the resilience of circular (C) EVBSCs worldwide, from mining valuable materials to manufacturing the batteries necessary to support the widespread deployment of EVs. Identifying and investigating critical success factors (CSFs) of any system is a necessary step in achieving its targets. Little research, however, has been performed to investigate the CSFs for building resilience in EVBSCs, particularly those focused on building a circular supply chain. The goal of this research is, therefore, to systematically scrutinize the CSFs of resilient C-EVBSCs in Türkiye. To this end, a decision framework applying inter-valued neutrosophic ISM-MICMAC is proposed. Based on expert opinions, an application of the decision framework finds that effective government policies, directives, and incentives and well-established dynamic capabilities, are key driving CSFs to building resilience in a C-EVBSC.
- MakaleÖn baskısı açık2026Mixed Method Investigation of the Major Challenges to the Sustainable Deployment of the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Network in Türkiye
Erol, Ismail; Oztel, Ahmet; Peker, Iskender; Ar, Ilker Murat; Benli, Tolga; Turan, İsmet
Charging the increasing number of electric vehicles (EVs) in use requires the deployment of EV charging station networks (EVCSN). However, there are various challenges to deploying EVCSN in a sustainable manner. Türkiye, a developing country, should also build a robust EVCSN to encourage future adoption of EVs as the country’s market for EVs has been rapidly growing. The literature review concludes that no previous study has systematically explored challenges to the sustainable deployment of EVCSN. The goal of this study is, therefore, twofold: first, it identifies those challenges through the lenses of commonly used theories. Second, it explores them using a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework that incorporates a rough-derived interval-valued neutrosophic set (R-IVN)-based ISM into MICMAC. By deriving interval neutrosophic information from single-valued expert inputs using rough number operators, the proposed approach more accurately captures epistemic uncertainty and variability in expert judgments compared to conventional interval-based models. The method is further validated through a novel Dice–Sørensen similarity index-based simulation approach. The findings of this study suggest that developing government policies and regulations and addressing the existence of vertically integrated companies are the critical challenges with higher driving powers. These findings provide key responsibilities for stakeholders, including urban municipalities, in developing guidelines for EVCSN deployment.
- MakaleYalnız künye2026Building Resilience in Global Tourism: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis of Indicators for Sustainable Development
Erol, Ismail; Dogru, Tarik; Oztel, Ahmet; Bilgihan, Anil; Peker, Iskender; Neuhofer, Irem Onder
The primary perspective of this study is the global tourism industry (GTI) as an interconnected supply chain network, encompassing both tourism firms (e.g., hotels, airlines, and operators) and destinations (e.g., local communities and ecosystems). This industry-level focus allows for analyzing resilience indicators that bridge firm-specific capabilities with destination-wide vulnerabilities, rather than isolating one over the other. Using a mixed-method approach, this research conceptualizes resilience through various management theories. First, it identifies critical resilience indicators across institutional, societal, economic, and ecological dimensions. Second, these indicators are analyzed with a novel Spherical Fuzzy Interpretive Structural Modeling and Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification framework, utilizing expert opinions to uncover complex interdependencies among indicators. The findings of this study highlight that effective government policies, robust incentive mechanisms, advanced digital infrastructure, dynamic capabilities, and ecologically sustainable tourism practices are key drivers of resilience. However, socioeconomic impacts, tourist satisfaction, and price competitiveness emerge as highly dependent outcomes influenced by these drivers. This study also introduces the Adaptive Global-Local Interaction Theory, a new framework that integrates global influences with local realities to enhance tourism resilience. By offering a comprehensive framework and practical guidelines, this research equips policymakers and stakeholders with actionable strategies to bolster the industry's capacity to anticipate, adapt to, and recover from crises, promoting sustainable development amidst volatile global conditions.
- MakaleAçık Erişim2025Towards precision dentistry through artificial intelligence and blockchain-based digital Twins: Investigating challenges and solution strategies
Erol, Ismail; Peker, Iskender; Medeni, Ihsan Tolga; Yuce, Fatma
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and digital twins (DT) in dentistry is essential to meet evolving patient expectations and global healthcare challenges. However, realizing their full potential requires addressing significant adoption barriers. While conceptual studies have explored challenges to implementing AI, blockchain, and DT in dentistry, no prior research has systematically analyzed the interrelationships among these obstacles using a structured decision framework. This study employs pentagonal fuzzy (PF) DEMATEL to investigate the connections among challenges to effectively implementing AI and blockchain-based DT in dentistry. Expert opinions highlight ethical considerations and bias and fairness in AI-based DT as the most critical causal challenges. We propose an AI and blockchain-based DT architecture that enables human doctors to leverage DT-based decision support, while AI-driven systems execute high-precision procedures with blockchain-verified workflows. This framework enhances treatment accuracy and personalization in dentistry and offers a scalable model for addressing societal concerns, such as privacy, fairness, and labor dynamics, in technology-driven ecosystems. A pilot study framework is proposed to validate diagnostic accuracy, data security, and treatment customization. Accompanied by stakeholder guidelines, this research bridges dentistry with broader discussions on technology's societal impact, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary strategies to ensure equitable and trustworthy innovation.
- Kitap BölümüAçık Erişim2025Ensuring Circularity through Outsourcing Decisions in Solar Photovoltaic Supply Chains
Erol, Ismail; Peker, Iskender; Benli, Tolga; Ar, Ilker Murat
Because solar photovoltaic (SPv) panels have seen such significant cost reductions in recent years, it has proven to be by far the most dynamic forms of renewable power generation. However, the transition from linear to circular is also crucial for building sustainability in SPv supply chains. The circular economy (CE) is appealing in part because of its ability to bring economic and environmental development objectives together to ensure sustainable production and consumption. To aid in the shift to a more circular economy, several circular-based strategies for various functions such as procurement can be developed. In this study, critical success factors (CSFs) to ensure circular outsourcing structure in SPv supply chains are identified and scrutinized. To achieve this, a multi-criteria-based methodology is proposed. The findings of this study argue that understanding the actual implications of not converting to circular outsourcing (C12) is the most significant cause CSF. This study also provides several implications.
- MakaleAçık Erişim2024Exploring the enablers for building resilience in solar photovoltaic Energy supply chains
Erol, Ismail; Peker, Iskender; Benli, Tolga; Ar, Ilker Murat; Searcy, Cory
A solar photovoltaic energy supply chain (SPvESC) is a global network with several linkages, including mineral and metal mining, material processing, and module and panel manufacturing. Due to the wide range of uncertainties and the unfavorable environmental effects associated with current linear business models, this global network is vulnerable to disruptions. Strengthening the resilience of SPvESCs is crucial for addressing any disturbances. This requires identifying the key enablers of resilience in SPvESCs, an area that has been understudied in the existing literature. An enabler is an aspect that facilitates the achievement of a goal by another aspect. This research contributes to the existing literature by systematically investigating the enablers for SPvESCs to achieve resilience. Thus, the objective of this analysis is to identify enablers that have the potential to enhance the resilience of SPvESCs in Türkiye. This was done by applying the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) in conjunction with a review of the current literature. Neutrosophic (N)-DEMATEL was then utilized to determine the relationships between the identified enablers. Finally, the results were validated using N-DELPHI. The results revealed that sensing and seizing new business models, adaptability to changes in novel energy generation and information technologies, and business contingency plans for natural and man-made disasters were the most influential enablers. The findings provide implications for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to help ensure improved resilience in SPvESCs.
- MakaleAçık Erişim2024Supply chain resilience in the tourism and hospitality industry: A comprehensive examination of driving and restraining forces
Erol, Ismail; Oztel, Ahmet; Dogru, Tarik; Peker, Iskender; Neuhofer, Irem Onder; Benli, Tolga
Supply chain disruptions and a lack of resilient supply chains have adverse impact on the global economy. Particularly, complex nature of the tourism and hospitality industry makes it even more susceptible to failure when supply chain resiliency is rather low or does not exist. However, despite its significance, a comprehensive and systematic examination of building resilience in tourism and hospitality supply chains (THSCs) is lacking in the extant literature. The purpose of this study is to develop a comprehensive framework that outlines the driving and restraining forces for building resilient THSCs. The decision framework proposed in this study integrates rough interval valued neutrosophic (RIVN) force field theory of change with RIVN-ISM-MICMAC methodology. The results showed that the restraining forces, such as lack of effective regulations and incentives and effective organizational and supply chain policies are the primary factors that constrain improving resilience in THSCs. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
- MakaleYalnız künye2023Examining the role of urban-industrial symbiosis in the circular economy: an approach based on N-Force field theory of change and N-ISM-Micmac
Erol, Ismail; Peker, Iskender; Ar, Ilker Murat; Searcy, Cory
The circular economy (CE) refers to a new industrial paradigm that contrasts with the linear supply chain structure based on a "take, make, use, dispose" pathway. Due to its potential contributions to improving the CE, industrial symbiosis (IS) has been recognized as a feasible way to advance it. Urban symbiosis is an extension of IS that involves a series of symbiotic relationships among enterprises within the urban area. Combining urban and industrial symbiosis (Ur-IS) is a step toward better resource efficiency in urban areas and industrial zones and urban areas. However, while there are several driving forces for Ur-IS adoption, there are also many inhibiting factors. A comprehensive decision framework is needed to address the principal drivers and challenges for Ur-IS initiatives. Türkiye, designated as a candidate for full EU membership in 1999, also places importance on environmental sustainability goals and effective resource management in its own move towards a CE. Our literature review concluded that there is only one quantitative study investigating the driving and (or) restraining forces for Ur-IS adoption in emerging and industrialized countries. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of Ur-IS implementation in Türkiye through the proposed Neutrosphopic-Simple Additive Weighting Method-based force field theory of change and the Neutrosphopic–Interpretive Structured Modeling-Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Method. The findings suggest that lack of policies, lack of incentives and regulations, and vulnerability and supply uncertainty are the most significant restraining forces for Ur-IS implementation in Türkiye. The research findings can assist decision-makers in Türkiye in effectively implementing Ur-IS.
- MakaleAçık Erişim2023Leveraging blockchain in response to a pandemic through disaster risk management: an IF-MCDM framework
Peker, Iskender; Ar, Ilker Murat; Erol, Ismail; Searcy, Cory
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the necessity for strategic approaches to manage global catastrophes. This study argues that disaster risk management (DRM) is an essential approach to mitigate the impact of global calamities, such as a pandemic. However, due to the uncertainty emerging from variables such as time and demand, managing DRM effectively involves high complexity. Blockchain technology (BcT) can be implemented to help address these challenges due to its potential to build trust, transparency, and accountability in complex operations. However, no research has quantitatively examined the applicability of BcT in the sub-dimensions of DRM to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal and scope of this study is to explore the role of BcT in DRM operations during the COVID-19 pandemic through an Intuitionistic Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (IF-MCDM) framework. More specifically, the Intuitionistic Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (IF-ANP) method was utilized to calculate the weights of key criteria (i.e., BcT benefits), while Intuitionistic Fuzzy VIKOR (IF-VIKOR) was used to prioritize the alternatives (i.e., the sub-dimensions of DRM). The findings of this study are threefold. First, supporting effective coordination turned out to be the most essential benefit of BcT to build resilience in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, disaster management was found to be the most appropriate DRM sub-dimension for possible BcT implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lastly, eleven distinct activities involved in disaster management and governance and financial protection were discovered to be the most applicable for BcT. The findings of this study could assist disaster risk managers to assess whether (or not) BcT is suitable for the sub-dimensions of DRM to build national and organizational resilience in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- MakaleYalnız künye2022Alleviating the Impact of the Barriers to Circular Economy Adoption Through Blockchain: An Investigation Using an Integrated MCDM-based QFD With Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Term Sets
Erol, Ismail; Murat Ar, Ilker; Peker, Iskender; Searcy, Cory
Despite its clear potential to contribute to sustainability, there are many challenges to adopting circular economy (CE). These barriers impede the implementation of CE; however, research to address them is ongoing. For example, novel technologies have become a key enabler for easing the impact of CE adoption barriers. Blockchain is one disruptive technology that has the potential to address some of those barriers, notably technological, organizational, and ecological. Blockchain is particularly well suited to help address supply chain-oriented barriers to CE adoption. However, a review of the literature shows that while there are a limited number of conceptual studies that address the capabilities of blockchain to alleviate the impact of the barriers to CE, no previous study has focused on this vital subject using a decision tool based on expert data. To this end, this paper proposes an integrated decision framework involving Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM)-based Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method with Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Term Sets (HFLTS) to investigate the true potential of blockchain to address the CE adoption barriers. Our findings indicate that enhanced supply chain traceability management, improved collaboration and coordination in supply chain ecosystems, building higher levels of trust in supply chain ecosystems, and enhanced business models are the most significant functions of blockchain to help overcome the CE adoption barriers.
- MakaleYalnız künye2022Scrutinizing blockchain applicability in sustainable supply chains through an integrated fuzzy multi-criteria decision making framework
Erol, Ismail; Ar, Ilker Murat; Peker, Iskender
Sustainability has become increasingly important over the last three decades and has proven to be a key enabler for constructing resilient supply chains. Customers who want their products to be authenticated for sustainability put pressure on Original Equipment Manufacturers and suppliers to become more sustainable on a global scale. Moreover, social sustainability issues have become more challenging to address, and a growing number of stakeholders put emphasis on societal concerns. To this end, decision-makers are becoming increasingly interested in applying disruptive technologies to address societal, environmental, and economic concerns and accomplish sustainability goals. Researchers argue that disruptive technologies such as blockchain may be implemented to assist supply chains towards building sustainability. However, our literature analysis concluded that existing research has not quantitatively examined the critical functions of sustainable supply chain (SSC) for blockchain applicability using a decision framework. Therefore, this research, through Fuzzy SWARA-COPRAS-EDAS and COPELAND-based framework, is aimed at investigating the most feasible functions of a SSC for potential blockchain implementations. Using this framework, the critical functions of a SSC were ranked against the benefits of blockchain. The findings of this study implied that while sourcing, delivery, transformation and product recovery proved to be the most appropriate functions of SSCs for blockchain applications, customers and product use was the least feasible one. This study aids decision-makers in gaining a more thorough understanding of where in a SSC blockchain may create additional value.
- MakaleAçık Erişim2022Closing the Loop in Photovoltaic Solar and Wind Power Supply Chains: An investigation in Turkey through Neutrosphopic-DELPHI-based Force Field Analysis and Neutrosphopic-DEMATEL
Erol, Ismail; Peker, Iskender; Turan, İsmet; Benli, Tolga
Since solar panels and wind turbines have limited lifespans, solar photovoltaic energy supply chain (SPvESC) and wind energy supply chain (WESC) in Turkey needs a paradigm shift to improve the efficiency and recyclability of solar panel and wind turbine components. The circular economy (CE) is a viable strategy for reducing the negative effects of linear supply chains in the SPvESC and WESC. However, despite the several drivers of implementing CE in the SPvESC and WESC, there are also barriers to CE initiatives. It is argued that further studies are needed to explore the drivers and challenges for CE adoption in different industries of developing and developed countries. Hence, the goal of this research is to explore the driving and restraining forces for CE adoption in Turkey's SPvESC and WESC through a decision framework that includes Neutrosphopic DELPHI-based Force Field Analysis, Neutrosphopic-DEMATEL, and Nominal Group Technique. The findings of this research suggested that because the total score of restraining forces is higher than that of driving forces in force field analysis, it is critical to investigate the relationships among the restraining forces. Our findings also suggested that nonexistence of effective incentives and regulations proved to be the most prominent restraining force.
- MakaleYalnız künye2021Assessing the feasibility of blockchain technology in industries: evidence from Turkey
Erol, Ismail; Ar, Ilker Murat; Ozdemir, Ali Ihsan; Peker, Iskender; Asgary, Ali; Medeni, Ihsan Tolga; Medeni, Tunc
Purpose The objective of this study is to assess quantitatively how feasible blockchain is for various industries, such as logistics and supply chain, health, energy, finance, automotive, pharmaceutical and agriculture and food using a comprehensive list of indicators. Design/methodology/approach A decision aid was applied to the problem of identifying the feasibility of blockchain in Turkish industries. To this end, first, a set of indicators was identified. Then, the fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS were utilized to assess the feasibility comparatively using the data gathered from a group of experts. Finally, a scenario analysis was conducted to ensure the consistency of our evaluation. Findings The findings of this study suggest that comparatively, logistics and supply chain, finance and health industries are the most feasible industries for blockchain. This study further suggests that blockchain is the least feasible for the automotive industry compared to the rest of the identified industries. Research limitations/implications It is cumbersome to find out the respondents who have sufficient knowledge of both blockchain and the identified industries. Even if we took the utmost care in identifying the right respondents, we limited our search to the biggest industrial hubs of Turkey. Practical implications The findings of this research may help various decision-makers employed in governments, conglomerates, software and consulting firms and national research institutions make more informed decisions and allocate their resources more effectively. Originality/value To this date, the current studies have solely investigated possible research opportunities in blockchain and demonstrated several blockchain applications in stand-alone cases. To the best of our knowledge, however, no single study exists that evaluates the feasibility of blockchain comparatively and holistically among a group of industries using various indicators.
- MakaleYalnız künye2021Towards a circular economy: Investigating the critical success factors for a blockchain-based solar photovoltaic energy ecosystem in Turkey
Erol, Ismail; Peker, Iskender; Ar, Ilker Murat; Turan, İsmet; Searcy, Cory
Novel business models can be implemented through digital platforms to enable better circular economy (CE) performance in the renewable energy industry. For example, blockchain can assist in developing innovative business models throughout the solar photovoltaic energy ecosystem (SPVEE) to improve CE. Ranked fifth in total installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity, Turkey, as a developing country, should take the necessary steps and make progress towards achieving CE in the SPVEE. The solar PV industry requires further innovation to address the negative environmental impact of existing linear business models. To ensure favorable results, identifying and evaluating critical success factors (CSFs) are necessary. However, no study has investigated CSFs for SPVEE or any other renewable energy source to achieve a blockchain-based infrastructure towards increased CE performance. Therefore, the goal of this study is to identify and examine the CSFs to improve the performance of a blockchain-based SPVEE towards CE in Turkey. To this end, first, the CSFs for blockchain-based SPVEE were identified through both a literature review and the Nominal Group Technique (NGT). Then, Intuitionistic Fuzzy (IF)-DEMATEL was used to explore their interrelationships based on the expert data. Finally, IF-DELPHI was employed to validate the results. Our findings suggested that effective government incentive programs and regulations are significant for blockchain-based SPVEE towards CE in Turkey. The findings of this study assist macro and micro decision-making in the potential implementation of blockchain in Turkish SPVEE to improve CE. They are also invaluable for other countries and can be used as a reference point.
- MakaleYalnız künye2020Evaluating the feasibility of blockchain in logistics operations: A decision framework
Ar, Ilker Murat; Erol, Ismail; Peker, Iskender; Ozdemir, Ali Ihsan; Medeni, Tunc Durmus; Medeni, Ihsan Tolga
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of blockchain technology in logistics industry using a quantitative approach. To this end, a decision framework is proposed based on a multi-criteria decision structure that incorporates AHP into VIKOR under Intuitionistic Fuzzy Theory. This integration presents different solutions and rankings based on different decision-making strategies and also captures uncertainty in the evaluation process. While Intuitionistic Fuzzy AHP calculates the importance weights of the proposed criteria indicated as scalability, privacy, interoperability, audit, latency, visibility, trust, and security, Fuzzy VIKOR ranks the logistics operations demonstrated as materials handling, warehousing, order processing, transportation, packaging, fleet management, labeling, vehicle routing and product returns management. The proposed decision framework was applied in a large-scale logistics company located in Turkey. The findings of this study suggest that while the most important criteria are security, visibility and audit, the most feasible logistics operations proved to be transportation, materials handling, warehousing, order processing and fleet management in a possible blockchain implementation. The decision framework in this study may enable decision makers to evaluate the feasibility of blockchain in logistics operations, which is one of the main research gaps in the current blockchain research. Furthermore, this is the first study that integrates AHP and VIKOR methods under Intuitionistic Fuzzy Theory in the context of blockchain.
- MakaleYalnız künye2020The role of blockchain in reducing the impact of barriers to humanitarian supply chain management
Ozdemir, Ali Ihsan; Erol, Ismail; Ar, Ilker Murat; Peker, Iskender; Asgary, Ali; Medeni, Tunc Durmus; Medeni, Ihsan Tolga
Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the role of blockchain in reducing the impact of barriers to humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) using a list of blockchain benefits. Design/methodology/approach: A decision aid was used to explore the suitability of blockchain in humanitarian supply chains. To achieve that, first, a list of barriers to HSCM was identified. Then, the intuitionistic fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (IF–DEMATEL) method was utilized to determine the relationships and the level of interdependencies among the criteria. Finally, the intuitionistic fuzzyanalytic network process (IF–ANP) technique was employed, as it successfully handles dependencies among the criteria. Findings: The findings of this study suggest that interorganizational barriers are the most suitable ones, the impacts of which blockchain may alleviate. This study further suggests that trust turned out to be the most significant benefit criterion for the analysis. Research limitations/implications: The readers should construe the findings of this study with caution since it was carried out using the data collected from the experts of a particular country. Moreover, the proposed decision aid contemplates a limited set of criteria to assess a possible role of blockchain in overcoming the barriers to HSCM. Practical implications: The findings of this study can assist humanitarian supply chain managers to make more judicious assessments on whether they implement the blockchain in humanitarian supply chain operations. Specifically, this research may help decision makers to identify the certain barriers, the impact of which may be reduced by using the blockchain. The findings of this research will also help various decision makers make more rational decisions and allocate their resources more effectively. Originality/value: To the best of authors’ knowledge, no single study exists to investigate the role of blockchain in reducing the impact of barriers to HSCM using an intuitionistic fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making approach.








