Journal of Global Research Frontiers and Innovation

(Annual (One issue per year))

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the technoethical challenges that may be faced by senior decision-makers within the South African cold supply chain industry, during the integration of drone technologies. Moreover, the central focus of the study focuses on the ethical implications of drone autonomy and highlights the critical need for strategic literacy in distinguishing between remotely operated and autonomous drone systems. Furthermore, the study adopts a qualitative, inductive, and exploratory research design within an interpretivist paradigm. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 senior professionals in strategic, operational, technological, and compliance roles. Data was analysed thematically through the lens of technoethics and decision-making theory, using a SPICE framework for the design of the data collection instrument, and a QUES matrix to ensure data quality. Three key findings emerged: (1) senior decision-makers often lacked the technoethical literacy to differentiate drone capabilities, leading to ethical oversights; (2) misunderstanding autonomous drone systems amplified privacy, surveillance, and legal risks; and (3) ethical and legal consequences were often underestimated or delegated without sufficient governance structures. These findings were supported by a conceptual framework that was developed to support the identification of ethical decision-making aspects required during drone deployment. From here, the study proposes a technoethical framework for ethical drone governance as part of the drone literacy required within the South African cold supply chain industry. Additionally, the study through its findings advances ethical foresight in distinguishing between remotely operated drones and autonomous, as an underpinning literacy required within strategic decision-making when adopting emerging technologies such as drone technology. The proposed technoethical framework is intended to support strategic decision-makers in pre-emptively considering the ethical risks in drone adoption, and in aligning operational readiness through the stated drone literacy required.

Keywords: Technoethics; Drone Autonomy; Drone Ethics; Emerging Technology; Ethical Decision-Making; Cold Supply Chain; Strategic Digital Literacy; Autonomous Systems; Privacy and Surveillance