Evaluating Blockchain Technology Implementation Risks in the Automotive Industry: A Fuzzy Decision-Making Approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Prof., Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Prof., Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/imj.2026.410718.1008287

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to identify and prioritize the potential risks associated with adopting blockchain technology in the supply chain of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) operating in the automotive industry.
Methodology: A fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach is employed. The Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method is used to determine the relative importance of identified blockchain implementation risks while accounting for ambiguity and subjectivity in expert judgments. The proposed framework is validated through a case study involving SMEs in the automotive sector, where expert evaluations are collected and modeled using fuzzy numbers to improve the robustness and accuracy of the results.
Results: The findings indicated that security, technical, and organizational risks were the most important ones. Additionally, the sub-risks of privacy/confidentiality of information, lack of necessary policies and regulations, and cyber-attacks with values of 0.1224, 0.0933, and 0.0927 were recognized as the most critical, respectively. These results highlight the areas that require immediate managerial and regulatory attention to ensure successful blockchain implementation.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that integrating fuzzy sets with SWARA method provides a systematic and reliable approach for assessing blockchain adoption risks under uncertainty. The proposed framework offers practical guidance for supply chain managers and policymakers seeking to mitigate implementation risks and achieve sustainable competitive advantages through blockchain technology.

Keywords

References

Abdollahi, S., Ghoushchi, S. J., & Haseli, G. (2026). Evaluation of sustainable strategies for implementing blockchain technology in the solar energy supply chain under fuzzy ZE-numbers. Applied Soft Computing, 189, 114522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2025.114522
Adam, I., & Fazekas, M. (2021). Are emerging technologies helping win the fight against corruption? A review of the state of evidence. Information Economics and Policy, 57, 100950.
Agi, M. A., & Jha, A. K. (2022). Blockchain technology in the supply chain: An integrated theoretical perspective of organizational adoption. International Journal of Production Economics, 247, 108458.
Almutairi, K., Hosseini Dehshiri, S. J., Hosseini Dehshiri, S. S., Hoa, A. X., Arockia Dhanraj, J., Mostafaeipour, A., Issakhov, A., & Techato, K. (2022). Blockchain Technology Application Challenges in Renewable Energy Supply Chain Management. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(28), 72041–72058. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-18311-7 
Böhme, R., Christin, N., Edelman, B., & Moore, T. (2015). Bitcoin: Economics, technology, and governance. Journal of economic Perspectives, 29(2), 213–238.
Çıkmak, S., Kantoğlu, B., & Kırbaç, G. (2024). Evaluation of the effects of blockchain technology characteristics on SCOR model supply chain performance measurement attributes using an integrated fuzzy MCDM methodology. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 27(6), 1015–1045.
Dehshiri, S. J. H., Emamat, M. S. M. M., & Amiri, M. (2022). A novel group BWM approach to evaluate the implementation criteria of blockchain technology in the automotive industry supply chain. Expert Systems with Applications, 198, 116826.
Drljevic, N., Aranda, D. A., & Stantchev, V. (2020). Perspectives on risks and standards that affect the requirements engineering of blockchain technology. Computer Standards & Interfaces, 69, 103409.
Dutta, P., Choi, T.-M., Somani, S., & Butala, R. (2020). Blockchain technology in supply chain operations: Applications, challenges and research opportunities. Transportation research part e: Logistics and transportation review, 142, 102067.
Gad, A. G., Mosa, D. T., Abualigah, L., & Abohany, A. A. (2022). Emerging trends in blockchain technology and applications: A review and outlook. Journal of King Saud University-Computer and Information Sciences, 34(9), 6719–6742.
Hashim, A. N. (2023). Blockchain technology, methodology behind it, and its most extensively used encryption techniques. Al-Salam Journal for Engineering and Technology, 2(2), 140–151.
Hawlitschek, F., Notheisen, B., & Teubner, T. (2018). The limits of trust-free systems: A literature review on blockchain technology and trust in the sharing economy. Electronic commerce research and applications, 29, 50–63.
Hewa, T., Ylianttila, M., & Liyanage, M. (2021). Survey on blockchain based smart contracts: Applications, opportunities and challenges. Journal of network and computer applications, 177, 102857.
Hosseini Dehshiri, S. J. (2025a). An integrated decision-making framework for evaluating Industry 5.0 and Circular Economy in supply chain management using Z-numbers. Applied Soft Computing, 181, 113504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2025.113504
Hosseini Dehshiri, S. J. (2025b). Reverse logistics and lean, agile, resilient, and green paradigms in supply chain: A comparative analysis of fuzzy decision-making methods. Cleaner Logistics and Supply Chain, 17, 100284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clscn.2025.100284
Hosseini Dehshiri, S. J., & Amiri, M. (2024). Evaluation of blockchain implementation solutions in the sustainable supply chain: A novel hybrid decision approach based on Z-numbers. Expert Systems with Applications, 235, 121123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2023.121123
Hosseini Dehshiri, S. J., Amiri, M., & Hosseini Bamakan, S. M. (2024). Evaluating the blockchain technology strategies for reducing renewable energy development risks using a novel integrated decision framework. Energy, 289, 129987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.129987
Hosseini Dehshiri, S. J., Amiri, M., Mostafaeipour, A., & Le, T. (2024). Integrating blockchain and strategic alliance in renewable energy supply chain toward sustainability: A comparative decision framework under uncertainty. Energy, 304, 132136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.132136
Hughes, L., Dwivedi, Y. K., Misra, S. K., Rana, N. P., Raghavan, V., & Akella, V. (2019). Blockchain research, practice and policy: Applications, benefits, limitations, emerging research themes and research agenda. International journal of information management, 49, 114–129.
Iranmanesh, M., Maroufkhani, P., Asadi, S., Ghobakhloo, M., Dwivedi, Y. K., & Tseng, M.-L. (2023). Effects of supply chain transparency, alignment, adaptability, and agility on blockchain adoption in supply chain among SMEs. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 176, 108931.
Janssen, M., Weerakkody, V., Ismagilova, E., Sivarajah, U., & Irani, Z. (2020). A framework for analysing blockchain technology adoption: Integrating institutional, market and technical factors. International journal of information management, 50, 302–309.
Keršuliene, V., Zavadskas, E. K., & Turskis, Z. (2010). Selection of rational dispute resolution method by applying new step‐wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA). Journal of Business Economics and Management, 11(2), 243–258.
Khan, S., Kaushik, M. K., Kumar, R., & Khan, W. (2023). Investigating the barriers of blockchain technology integrated food supply chain: A BWM approach. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 30(3), 713–735.
Kim, K., & Kang, T. (2017). Does technology against corruption always lead to benefit? The potential risks and challenges of the blockchain technology. Paper submitted to OECD’s Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum. https://www. oecd. org/cleangovbiz/Integrity-Forum-2017-Kim-Kang-blockchain-technology. pdf,
Kouhizadeh, M., Saberi, S., & Sarkis, J. (2021). Blockchain technology and the sustainable supply chain: Theoretically exploring adoption barriers. International Journal of Production Economics, 231, 107831.
Lacity, M. C. (2018). Addressing key challenges to making enterprise blockchain applications a reality. MIS quarterly executive, 17(3), 201–222.
Lim, M. K., Li, Y., Wang, C., & Tseng, M.-L. (2021). A literature review of blockchain technology applications in supply chains: A comprehensive analysis of themes, methodologies and industries. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 154, 107133.
Litke, A., Anagnostopoulos, D., & Varvarigou, T. (2019). Blockchains for supply chain management: Architectural elements and challenges towards a global scale deployment. Logistics, 3(1), 5.
Liu, J., Zhang, H., & Zhen, L. (2023). Blockchain technology in maritime supply chains: Applications, architecture and challenges. International journal of production research, 61(11), 3547–3563.
Mavi, R. K., Goh, M., & Zarbakhshnia, N. (2017). Sustainable third-party reverse logistic provider selection with fuzzy SWARA and fuzzy MOORA in plastic industry. The international journal of advanced manufacturing technology, 91, 2401–2418.
Mikaeil, R., Ozcelik, Y., Yousefi, R., Ataei, M., & Hosseini, S. M. (2013). Ranking the sawability of ornamental stone using Fuzzy Delphi and multi-criteria decision-making techniques. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 58, 118–126.
Mohammad, A., & Vargas, S. (2022). Barriers affecting Higher Education Institutions’ adoption of blockchain technology: A qualitative study. Informatics.
Nakamoto, S. (2008). Bitcoin: A peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Decentralized business review.
Nikolaenko, V., & Sidorov, A. (2023). Analysis of 105 IT Project Risks. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 16(1), 33.
Nõlvak, H., Truu, J., Limane, B., Truu, M., Cepurnieks, G., Bartkevičs, V., Juhanson, J., & Muter, O. (2013). Microbial community changes in TNT spiked soil bioremediation trial using biostimulation, phytoremediation and bioaugmentation. Journal of environmental engineering and landscape management, 21(3), 153–162.
Özkan, B., Kaya, İ., Erdoğan, M., & Karaşan, A. (2020). Evaluating blockchain risks by using a MCDM methodology based on pythagorean fuzzy sets. Intelligent and Fuzzy Techniques in Big Data Analytics and Decision Making: Proceedings of the INFUS 2019 Conference, Istanbul, Turkey, July 23-25, 2019,
Saberi, S., Kouhizadeh, M., Sarkis, J., & Shen, L. (2019). Blockchain technology and its relationships to sustainable supply chain management. International journal of production research, 57(7), 2117–2135.
Sadeghi, Z., Jahanyan, S., & Shahin, A. (2023). Mapping the Interactive Model of Relationships between Blockchain-Related Variables in the Green Supply Chain: DEMATEL-ISM Approach. Industrial Management Journal, 15(2), 244–271. https://doi.org/10.22059/imj.2023.350889.1008001
Salaj, & Kumari, M. (2025). A multi-criteria approach to blockchain in supply chain management assessment: entropy-CRITIC weight method and MCDM for enhanced decision support. International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, 16(5), 1830–1843. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-025-02764-x
Sanka, A. I., Irfan, M., Huang, I., & Cheung, R. C. (2021). A survey of breakthrough in blockchain technology: Adoptions, applications, challenges and future research. Computer Communications, 169, 179–201.
Sharma, B., & Kumar, A. (2023). Tax System: Power Packed by Blockchain. In Contemporary Studies of Risks in Emerging Technology, Part A (pp. 183–196). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Wenhua, Z., Qamar, F., Abdali, T.-A. N., Hassan, R., Jafri, S. T. A., & Nguyen, Q. N. (2023). Blockchain technology: security issues, healthcare applications, challenges and future trends. Electronics, 12(3), 546.
Yadav, V. S., Singh, A. R., Raut, R. D., & Govindarajan, U. H. (2020). Blockchain technology adoption barriers in the Indian agricultural supply chain: an integrated approach. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 161, 104877.
Yousefi, D., Ghafoori, S., & Derakhshani, S. (2026). Industry 4.0-enabled Customer-Centric Supply Chain Processes in Creative Industries: A Meta-Synthesis Framework. Industrial Management Journal, 18(1), 214–249. https://doi.org/10.22059/imj.2026.408437.1008277
Zadeh, L. (1965). Zadeh, fuzzy sets. Inform Control, 8, 338–353.
Zhang, G., Yang, Z., & Liu, W. (2023). Blockchain-based decentralized supply chain system with secure information sharing. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 109392.
Zheng, Z., Xie, S., Dai, H.-N., Chen, X., & Wang, H. (2018). Blockchain challenges and opportunities: A survey. International journal of web and grid services, 14(4), 352–375.
Zimmermann, H.-J. (2011). Fuzzy set theory—and its applications. Springer Science & Business Media.
 
 
Industrial Management Journal
Volume 18, Issue 2
2026
Pages 237-264

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics