Assessment of Factors Affecting the Adoption of Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains in Iranian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Keywords:
sustainable supply chain, supply chain resilience, small and medium-sized enterprises, fuzzy Delphi method, fuzzy Best-Worst MethodAbstract
This study was conducted with the aim of identifying and prioritizing the factors affecting the adoption of sustainable and resilient supply chains in Iranian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Given the critical role of these enterprises in employment and national production, as well as their high vulnerability to economic and institutional crises, the need to design an indigenous framework for enhancing sustainability and resilience is clearly evident. Accordingly, through a systematic review of domestic and international literature, thirteen key factors were initially identified, which, after refinement, were classified into six sustainability factors and three resilience factors. Subsequently, to validate and weight the factors, the fuzzy Delphi method was used for criteria screening, and the fuzzy Best-Worst Method was applied to calculate the final weights. The findings indicated that resilience is more important than sustainability in Iranian SMEs, and among the factors, strengthening resilience against crises, diversity and flexibility in the supply chain, and transparency and information sharing ranked highest. These results reflect Iran’s high-risk and unstable economic environment, in which enterprise survival and rapid recovery take precedence over environmental and economic considerations. From an applied perspective, policymakers and managers should facilitate the transition of enterprises toward resilient and sustainable supply chains by developing collaborative networks, implementing digital transparency-enhancing systems, supporting green technologies, and creating financial and technological incentives.
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