Towards organisation 4.0. An empirical study

Abstract

The Digital Transformation of firms is in an incipient stage despite being essential for competitiveness. Hence, the objective of the present study is to analyse which factors are important in the realisation of an Organisation 4.0. To this end we revise the literature to analyse the concept of Industry 4.0, identifying which technologies are necessary for this fourth industrial revolution, and the process of becoming an Organisation 4.0. A model is then proposed with the antecedent variables required for an Organisation 4.0, which include the roles of innovation, business intelligence and digital employees. The model is tested through a sample of 198 firms using the structural equations technique. Although technologies 4.0 have usually been considered as facilitators of innovation, the present study finds the opposite relationship, i.e. that innovation is a necessary antecedence for Organisation 4.0. It is also found that this stimulus is reinforced by Business Intelligence systems and that innovation strengthens the presence of digital employees. However, we have not been able to show how these digital employees contribute to the formation of an Organisation 4.0. More research is needed on the employee knowledge, skills and capabilities required for the implementation of an Organisation 4.0.