Fivezero Dergisi Current Issue

The detrimental effects of trade wars and protectionism are well-documented in both economic theory and empirical studies. While some positive outcomes may arise, trade wars typically reduce overall output by shrinking trade volumes and driving up prices. These negative impacts often outweigh any potential benefits. A prominent example is the trade conflict between the United States and China, which began in 2018 and intensified over time, significantly affecting many countries and their economies. In the midst of this ongoing trade dispute, the coronavirus pandemic emerged in early 2020, bringing international trade and economic activity to a near halt. As the pandemic’s impact grew, a global humanitarian and economic crisis unfolded. Following the pandemic, the global recovery process was complicated by rising geopolitical tensions, particularly the escalating conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which culminated in military action and war. Each of these crises disrupted global supply chains and led to major shifts in international trade and policy. These disruptions also profoundly affected maritime transport, the primary mode of global trade. This study aims to investigate the impact of these events from the trade wars of 2018, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing geopolitical tensions on the Baltic Dry Index (BDI). The BDI is a key indicator of the health of maritime transport and global trade flows. By analyzing changes in the index during this period using secondary data from international organizations, the study provides a comparative overview of the BDI from 2015 to 2023, with the data organized chronologically to highlight historical trends and disruptions.

Human resources (HR) management is the process of effectively managing the most valuable resource of organizations, human capital. This process covers a wide range from recruitment to performance evaluation, training and development, and career planning. Today, with the rapid development of technology, the role of information systems (IS) in HR practices is increasing. These systems, also known as human resources information systems (HRIS), are used to digitalize HR functions, automate processes, increase efficiency, and support strategic decision-making processes. The impact of information systems on HR is not only improving the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes, but also transforming the relationships between employees and managers. The analytical tools and data-based insights provided by information systems help HR professionals and managers to be more responsive to the needs and expectations of their employees. This allows leadership and management practices within the organization to become more effective and personalized. This study aims to analyze the Ministry of National Education Information System (MoNEIS), a system that digitizes and centralizes HR applications in the education sector. For this purpose, data obtained from MoNEIS of Selçuklu District National Education Directorate of Konya Province were examined. According to the findings various functions such as teacher appointments, relocations, in-service training, performance evaluations, and document management are handled through MoNEIS. This system automates these processes, ensuring transparency and efficiency through a centralized database. On the other hand, the system has a user-friendly interface. Another finding is that teachers and managers can quickly access the information they need, but they have to log out after each module and return to the main menu. The system is slow during peak usage hours and technical errors in the system can make it difficult for users to complete their transactions.

In logistics, which is a male-dominated sector, it is seen that the number of female employees has been increasing day by day in recent years. For this reason, there has been an increase in studies on female employees in the sector. However, since the limited number of studies include findings related to the study region, there is a need for studies on different regions in order to make generalizations. The aim of this study is to understand the experiences of women working in the logistics sector in Konya and to identify the opportunities and challenges they face. The study was conducted using in-depth interview method, one of the qualitative research methods. In-depth interviews consisting of open-ended questions were conducted with a total of 8 women working in the logistics sector in Konya, 6 primary and 2 substitute. According to the findings of the study; it has been determined that the widespread use of logistics education in Turkey has led to an increase in the number of women in this sector, the analytical mindset of women enables them to be successful in the sector, career-oriented and ambitious women work in the sector, women are thought to be weak and prejudiced, but women solve these problems without communication and compromise, women prefer office work rather than field work, despite the difficulties, managers support female employees, their wages are determined according to their performance and they can use their social rights. As a result, although the number of women in the logistics sector in Konya is still insufficient, the increase in the number of successful women in the sector and the fact that managers prefer female employees shows that the number of female employees will increase in the coming years.

Innovations in information technology cause significant developments in various fields including healthcare, economy, business and education. These developments, especially within the realm of education, accelerate technological advancements and lead to the adoption of distance education systems as effective learning tools. Consequently, determining students' adaptation to the distance education system has become an important issue. In early 2020, Türkiye swiftly adopted a distance education system as a precautionary measure against the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to this situation, face-to-face education has been halted, and educational activities have continued via online platforms. Distance education was effective until the start of the 2021/2022 academic year. During this period, it became crucial for students to adapt to this new system and use technology effectively. On February 6, 2023, Türkiye experienced a major earthquake disaster centered in Kahramanmaraş. This earthquake negatively affected the entire country and necessitated another transition to distance education. For the 2022/2023 spring academic period, universities in Türkiye once again switched to distance education. This situation required examining the students' adaptation processes to the distance education system for the second time. This research aims to identify potential differences in university students' adaptation processes to distance education employed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the February 6, 2023 earthquake. For this purpose, a survey was administered to a total of 623 students who voluntarily participated in the research during both periods. To investigate students' adaptation to the distance education system, this study utilized the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Confirmatory factor analysis and multi-group structural equation modeling were employed to analyze survey data collected from university students in Konya. The results indicated that students' adaptation to distance education varied significantly between the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the February 6, 2023 earthquake.

The speed and convenience brought by technology are critical for businesses and cannot be overlooked. Companies striving to maintain competitiveness are increasingly integrating technology to boost efficiency, enhance product quality, and reduce operational costs. The ability to leverage the advantages of technology is directly proportional to its adoption. Keeping up with technological advancements has become essential for all businesses, regardless of the sector, to remain competitive in the global market. Companies that quickly adopt new technologies gain a competitive edge over their rivals and solidify their market position. However, the rapid pace of technological change also demands a faster adaptation process. This study proposes a new model based on a revised Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework to quantitatively measure technology adaptation performance at the firm level and present adaptation as a numerical output. The M-BOOST model consists of six dimensions—Disruption, Organization, Stakeholder, Behavior, Technology, and Management—each with its own parameters. Each dimension score is calculated as the arithmetic mean of its parameters, while the overall M-BOOST Technology Adaptation Score is determined by the geometric mean of the six dimension scores. The model allows for individual evaluation of each dimension. In addition to separate assessments, an overall adaptation score was calculated based on the proposed formulation, and a value was presented for the case study. Companies with an M-BOOST score below 1 are considered to have technology adaptation issues, those scoring between 1-3 are open to improvement, and those above 3 are deemed successful. Results from the case study application are presented in the conclusion, along with insights on the model’s usability and recommendations for future research.