Exploring the diverse nature of business processes in organisations in Industry 4.0/5.0

Abstract

The article investigates the differentiation of business processes in contemporary organisations based on their dynamics (predictability). It presents and summarises research on the nature of business processes in Industry 4.0/5.0 conducted by researchers from 7 Polish universities. The study combines a systematic literature review based on the SCOPUS database and a survey of 466 respondents with an analysis of 12,573 processes. Filling the cognitive gap in Industry 4.0/5.0 organisations, the study reveals that nearly 60% of all BPs are semi-structured processes. At the same time, it shows a strong relationship between the importance of processes for the organisation and the dynamics of their execution. This finding highlights the importance of adaptability and flexibility in organisational dynamics, reflecting the nuanced nature of most BPs. The article presents original research on a diverse sample of Polish enterprises based on the simplified Business Processes Nature Assessment Framework. The presented research results indicate the need to update the essential elements of the BPM concept, such as BPM Lifecycle, BPM implementation method, or BPM maturity assessment, to consider various assessment criteria and implementation methods depending on the nature of BPs. The study contributes to advancing both theoretical knowledge and practical applications in the field of BPM, providing valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers alike.