An Evaluation and Improvement of the Quality of the Smart Ration Card by ISO 37301:2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33095/ycfa4j75Keywords:
Smart ration card, compliance management, ISO 37301, food security.Abstract
In evaluating the Iraqi smart ration card system in ISO 37301:2023 compliance management, this study reveals how far the system is compliant with international requirements, what gaps exist, and what areas need strengthening for efficiency and transparency purposes. Case study methods greatly complemented by the use of checklists, interviews, and various forms of statistical analysis, were employed to study the level of compliance of the smart ration card.
The results show that there exist considerable gaps in documentation, compliance risk assessment, and resource support, which weakens the system's ability to ensure food security and prevent fraud. While high levels of adherence exist in compliance planning and internal auditing, operational barriers and a lack of regulatory enforcement prevent full implementation. The study stresses the need for effective governance, stakeholder involvement, and better compliance monitoring to ensure that the smart ration card fits global standards.
The research concludes that the implementation of the ISO 37301:2023 principles could enhance food security, improve distribution of rations, and ensure legal compliance. In closing, the authors suggest a reform agenda, better training programs, and improvements to digital infrastructure to close the compliance gaps. Future studies should look at technology-based solutions for improving compliance frameworks in public sector service delivery.
Downloads
References
Abd AL-Salam, E.I. and Younis, F.R. (2021) “Availability Assessment of the Managing the Audit Program. According to the Specification Standard (ISO 19011:2018): A case study in Ministry of Construction Housing and General Municipalities”, Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 27(126), pp. 327–348. doi:10.33095/jeas.v27i126.2113.
Aboud, H. (2023). Gap analysis in the smart ration card system. Journal of Economics and Development, 10(1), 27–35.
Alaa Hussein *, H., & Kamel Jawad, M. (2024). Evaluation of Risk Management in the Ministry Interior of Iraq According to the Standards (ISO 31000: 2018). Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 30(142), 69-85. https://doi.org/10.33095/e21b7x84
Al-Najjar, N. (2019). Digital transformation in ration card systems: A comparative study between Egypt and Iraq. Arab Journal of Digital Innovation, 6(2), 13–28.
Alzahrani, S., & Khan, A. (2016). Risk-based Thinking in Compliance Management. “Journal of Risk Management,” 10(2), 10–25.
Asaad, N. (2019). Challenges in transitioning from the traditional ration card system to smart electronic systems. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 8, 23–40.
Barcik, A. (2020). Compliance systems as a determinant for the functioning of social responsibility instruments in an organization. Zeszyty Naukowe. Organizacja i Zarządzanie, Vol. 147. Politechnika Śląska, 7–23.
Bleker, H., & Hortensius, D. (2014). Integrating ISO 31000 with Compliance Management. “International Journal of Compliance and Risk,” 20(5), 10–20.
Coglianese, C., & Nesh, J. (2023). Ethical Compliance in Public Sector Projects. “Public Administration Review,” 78(4), 15–32.
Dawood, O. A., & Lafta, B. S. (2024). Diagnosing the Gap in Operational Requirements for the Compliance Management System According to the International Standard ISO 37301:2021 In the General Management of Al-Rasheed Bank / An Applied Research. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(8). https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i8.5178
Deming, W. E. (1986). Principles for transformation. Out of the Crisis. 18, 96.
Directorate of Planning and Follow-Up. (2023). Report on the performance evaluation of the smart ration card system.
Ismail, A. (2019). Difficulties in implementing the smart ration card system in public institutions. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 5(1), 23–34.
ISO 37301:2023. (n.d.). This Australian Standard® was prepared by QR-017, Organizational Governance. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 20 January 2023.
Jaafar, M. (2020). Adopting compliance management systems in Iraqi banks: Challenges and opportunities. Iraqi Journal of Administrative Sciences, 15(2), 27–36.
Jansen, R. D. (2021). A (In) Devida Divisão Do Compliance À Luz Da Abnt Nbr Iso 37301: 2021. Revista De Extensão E Iniciação Científica Da Unisociesc, 8(2).
Jasim Resen, E., & Sadiq AbdulRazzaq, M. (2022). An Evaluation of Environmental Performance According to The International Standard (ISO14001: 2015) in a Field East of Baghdad / A Case Study in the Midline Oil Company. Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 28(134), 29-56. https://doi.org/10.33095/jeas.v28i134.2420
Mohammed, T. F. (2023). Evaluating the Reality of the Compliance Management System According to the International Standard 37301 and Its Role in Achieving Sustainability Dimensions: A Case Study in Al-Rafidain Bank. [Master’s Thesis]. Middle Technical University.
Pelei, A., Bognár, F., & Juhász, M. (2024). Compliance as Business Development Potential in the Credit Institution Sector. Financial and Economic Review, 23(3), 171–192. https://doi.org/10.33893/FER.23.3.171
Quick, R., & Sayar, M. (2021). The Impact of ISO 37301 on Transparency in Municipal Services. Journal of Public Sector Management, 29(3), 2–15.
Qutb, A. (2021). Integration of compliance management according to ISO 37301 in the Egyptian ration card system. Egyptian Journal of Economic Studies, 12(3), 162–180.
RGM Saudi Company. (2021). Compliance Management System Consultancy for the Implementation of the International Standard ISO 37301:2021: A Case Study. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Rusul, S. S. A. H., & Al-Taie, Y. A. A. (2020). The effect of the environmental management system on the clean production strategy / case study in Middle Refineries Company. Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 26(121), 257-281.
https://doi.org/10.33095/jeas.v26i121.1950
Sony, A., & Douglas, B. (2021). Evolution of ISO Compliance Standards: From ISO 19600 to ISO 37301. International Compliance Review, 36(1), 2–10.
Villa-Gallón, J. E., Valencia-Bernal, J. A., & Garcés-Gómez, Y. A. (2024). ISO Standards in Healthcare Organizations: Research Evolution and Trends from a Bibliometric Analysis. Publications, 12(3), 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030027
Wijaya, O. Y. A. (2021). Risk Management Mitigation in the New Normal Era. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute (BIRCI-Journal): Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(1), 1088–1097. https://doi.org/10.33258/birci.v4i1.1716
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Articles submitted to the journal should not have been published before in their current or substantially similar form or be under consideration for publication with another journal. Please see JEAS originality guidelines for details. Use this in conjunction with the points below about references, before submission i.e. always attribute clearly using either indented text or quote marks as well as making use of the preferred Harvard style of formatting. Authors submitting articles for publication warrant that the work is not an infringement of any existing copyright and will indemnify the publisher against any breach of such warranty. For ease of dissemination and to ensure proper policing of use, papers and contributions become the legal copyright of the publisher unless otherwise agreed.
The editor may make use of Turnitin software for checking the originality of submissions received.