IoT Socioenvironmental Assessment Instrument: Validation Process Applying Delphi Method

Industry 4.0 technologies offer significant opportunities to enhance sustainable production and circular economy practices in the face of challenges arising from climate change. Considering the growing interest in this field, the literature review exposed that, particularly in the case of the Internet of Things (IoT), there is a need for empirical assessments of the impact of this technology on sustainability and circularity. This paper presents the validation process of an original assessment tool that evaluates IoT’s alignment with the socioenvironmental and circular context of manufacturing organizations and their supply chains. Emphasis is placed on the construct titled “IoT Technology Expectations”. After systematically conducting a literature review, this study employed the Delphi method in conjunction with statistical analyses to refine or formulate new indicators or statements based on expert consensus, validating the proposed assessment tool. The findings of this research contribute to management practices by providing an instrument to assess the current stance of top management and other key managers (production, project and supply chain) on IoT use in manufacturing operations or supply chains from a socioenvironmental and circular perspective. The instrument serves as a starting point for exploring IoT’s potential in circular economy practices. Academically, it provides a detailed explanation of the Delphi method and its application and outcomes.