The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Sustainability Practices: A Comparative Automated Content Analysis Approach of Theory and Practice

Vasja Roblek, Oshane Thorpe, Mirjana Pejić Bach (), Andrej Jerman and Maja Meško
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Oshane Thorpe: College of Media and Mass Communication, American University in the Emirates, Dubai 503000, UAE
Andrej Jerman: LPP, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Maja Meško: Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 20, 1-27

Abstract: (1) Background: The article provides a methodologically coherent analysis of technological development in the context of the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 and its impact on changes in sustainable development policy. (2) Methods: Using a Comparative Automated Content Analysis (ACA) approach, the article compares recent scientific work on sustainable development and the fourth industrial revolution with the discourse in the news media on sustainable development and industry 4.0. (3) Results: The scientific literature focuses more on changes in business models, production processes, and technologies that enable sustainable development. Newspaper and magazine articles write more about sustainable or green investments, sustainable standards, and sustainable reporting. The focus is on topics that are directly relevant to current sustainable business development and the promotion of research and development of clean and smart technologies and processes. (4) Conclusions: The ACA allows a more systematic comparison of different data sources. The article provides a starting point for sustainable development professionals to gain useful insights into a specific context with the help of the ACA.

Keywords: sustainability; industry 4.0; sustainable investment; corporate social responsibility; sustainable standards; sustainable reporting; smart manufacturing; renewable energy; cleaner production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8497-:d:428268

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