The SMEs' Journey to Industry 4.0: A Call for More IS Studies

Rostand Affogbolo, Vincent Dutot and Samuel Fosso Wamba
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Rostand Affogbolo: EDC - EDC Paris Business School
Vincent Dutot: Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School
Samuel Fosso Wamba: TBS - Toulouse Business School

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Abstract: Although I4.0 is becoming one of the hottest topic in both management literature and industry, it is less explored in IS research, where digital transformation is nevertheless widely discussed. One must also notice here that, current I4.0 studies are less interested in the needs of SMEs to benefit from this digital phenomenon, in contrast to the extensive research on large organizations. In this introductory essay, we highlight these important gaps and call for more research that can address them together. We begin with a conceptual clarification of the I4.0 concept. We first emphasize that it should no longer be limited to manufacturing settings. We also explain that it should not be confused with the concept of digital transformation. Finally, we outline five research avenues that we believe are important to consider when studying the needs of SMEs with respect to I4.0 in the IS field: open and business model innovation powered by I4.0, success of I4.0, vulnerabilities associated with I4.0, well-being issues and sustainability powered by I4.0.

Keywords: Industry 4.0; SME; IS Research; Digital transformation; Sociotechnical; Industrie 4.0; PME; Recherche SI; Transformation Digitale; Sociotechnique (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Published in Systèmes d'Information & Management, 2023, 28 (2), pp.3-21. ⟨10.3917/sim.282.0003⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04679099

DOI: 10.3917/sim.282.0003

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