سعید اخلاق پور

The implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) technology in food supply chains faces significant barriers that hinder its potential to enhance traceability, efficiency, and sustainability. This study identifies and analyzes these barriers by conducting a case study of Kalleh Company, a leading Iranian food producer, using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method. Through conducting a literature review and expert interviews, 11 key barriers were categorized into technological, financial, human capital, regulatory, and infrastructural dimensions. The DEMATEL analysis revealed critical insights into the causal relationships among these barriers. Inadequate infrastructure emerged as the most prominent barrier, heavily influenced by financial constraints such as high implementation costs and limited funding access . Meanwhile, lack of interoperability was identified as the strongest causal barrier, creating systemic challenges by preventing seamless integration across IoT systems. Interestingly, while the shortage of skilled labor showed balanced influence/dependence, its high prominence underscored its operational significance. The study highlights the complex interdependencies among IoT adoption barriers, demonstrating that infrastructure limitations cannot be resolved without addressing the underlying financial and technological challenges. These findings suggest that successful implementation of IoT requires coordinated strategies addressing multiple dimensions simultaneously including standardization efforts, financial support mechanisms, and workforce development programs.

Without effective mechanisms for implementation, a code of ethics would not impact employees’ behavior. This study aims to inductively investigate implementing a code of ethics to improve the current understanding of this subject and make implementing a code of ethics in organizations more effective. To this end, the Grounded Theory (GT) approach is used. The research sample comprises managers and employees from 12 ICT companies in the Tehran Stock Exchange. Data were collected by conducting interviews and using the theoretical sampling method. On this basis, 23 HR managers/experts were interviewed. The collected data were analyzed using the approach proposed by Strauss and Corbin (1998). The findings indicate that organizations are driven to implement a code of ethics due to two main reasons: external pressure and internal needs. In implementing a code of ethics, they face challenges such as low top management support, improper financial situation, and unsupportive employee perceptions and attitudes. To implement a code of ethics, surveyed organizations take initiatives such as code of ethics definition and redefinition, communication, code of ethics training, punishing violations, and awarding obligations and social methods. Such initiatives can improve an organization’s ethical climate and create a distinguished identity, whereas they can yield undesired consequences if proven unsuccessful.

This systematic mapping study provides a comprehensive review of the existing literature on Fintech and its role in banking, exploring the current state, development, and future prospects of Fintech research. By analyzing 687 Fintech-related articles from academic databases covering the years 2015 to 2024, this article examines the evolution of Fintech. After describing the process of this phenomenon we identified a significant increase in research activity within this field during the past 5 years. This study offers a unique viewpoint, enabling both researchers and practitioners to reconsider the future direction and scope of Fintech research. This paper reviews the literature on Fintech and its interaction with banking, encompassing innovations in payment systems, credit markets, and insurance, with Blockchain-powered smart contracts also playing a role. It defines Fintech, presents relevant statistics and key insights, and reviews both theoretical and empirical studies. This review is centered around research questions, summarizing current knowledge, and concluding with recommendations for future research avenues.