scholarly journals Development of a Business Assessment and Diagnosis Tool That Considers the Impact of the Human Factor during Industrial Revolutions

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 940
Author(s):  
Maximilian B. Torres ◽  
Diego Gallego-García ◽  
Sergio Gallego-García ◽  
Manuel García-García

Over time, the satisfaction of needs and the ability to meet them have consistently increased. However, the world of the 21st century is one in which the basic needs of millions of human beings are still not satisfied. Why? To an extent, nonprofit organizations such as charities play essential roles in the needed improvement of this situation. In this regard, the human factor within an organization is key influence in organizational performance and societal impact. Human beings within organizations make decisions based on their own motives, so the ethical values of each person are significantly important. Therefore, it is necessary to use analyze the potential of the human factor in the fourth industrial revolution and to analyze its influence in the previous industrial revolutions. This research was aimed to conduct such analyses for a nonprofit charity. Moreover, the authors of this paper also analyzed the industrial revolution potentials of the charity case study using system dynamics. The relevance of the presented paper was ensured by the aforementioned combination of topics. The results showed how greater impacts, higher expenses, and higher stocks were not necessarily able to quantitatively satisfy food needs in a timely manner if the human factor and global effectiveness and efficiency were not optimized. When these aspects were optimized, our hypothesis was proven, as the models set for further industrial revolutions were shown to provide better results in the satisfaction, efficiency, and economic indicators with a lower financial need; therefore, this model can be used to satisfy other needs of Maslow’s pyramid. In conclusion, this proposed approach empowers welfare organizations to increase their CSR consideration, thus enabling them to use internal mechanisms to secure viability in the pursuit of a high-performance CSR approach.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 208-225
Author(s):  
Lyudmila Belova

The article traces the impact of innovation on employment and workers income during industrial revolutions. The aim of the study is to identify the business model that contributes to improving the well-being and reducing negative impact of innovative transformations on employees. To achieve this goal, we analyze: the conceptions of industrial revolutions; the “Engels pause”, which arose during the First Industrial Revolution as a “surge” in inequality due to the contradiction between productivity growth and profit, on the one hand, and the stagnation of workers’ real incomes, on the other; the effect of replacing manual labor with automated one; the problems of technological unemployment; the digital business model of sharing economy. The findings report conclusions concerning the change in economic development paradigm as a result of the replacement of classical consumption models by sharing economy business model, on the prospects of the sharing economy business model in the context of its ability to solve employment problems, overcome technological unemployment and increase employees’ income. The achieved results can be useful for policymakers and corporate structures that design innovative development strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia A. Katou

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of high-performance work systems (HPWS) on organizational performance through the mediating role of human resources (HR) flexibility (expressed by functional flexibility, skills malleability and behavioural flexibility).Design/methodology/approachThe study examines theoretical relationships in the Greek context, which reflects changing economic and financial crisis, based on multilevel structural equation modelling estimation, using three waves of sample data collected in years 2014, 2016 and 2018 from organizations operating in the private sector.FindingsThe study finds that although HPWS positively influences all three HR flexibility dimensions, this positive effect is not transferred equally to organizational performance. The dominant effect on organizational performance is attributed to skills malleability, a smaller effect to behavioural flexibility and a negligible effect to functional flexibility.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the data collected refer to three different years, most of the companies and individuals responded to sampling were different. As such, the study does not allow for dynamic causal inferences due to its quasi-longitudinal nature.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study may influence managerial decisions in developing bundles of HPWS policies and practices in relation to HR flexibility attributes.Originality/valueSince most studies consider HR flexibility as an aggregated construct, this study is possibly one of the very few studies that is examining the differential impact of the HR flexibility dimensions on organizational performance in turbulent times.


Author(s):  
Reginald M.J. Oduor

Discussions on the impact and future directions of technology often proceed from an empirical point of view that seems to presume that the ebb and flow of technological developments is beyond the control of humankind, so that all that humanity can do is adjust to it. However, such an approach easily neglects several crucial normative considerations that could enhance the standing of individual human beings and whole communities as rational users of technology rather than its slaves. Besides, more often than not, technological products are designed in ways that neglect the needs of persons with disabilities, thereby perpetuating their exclusion from society. Consequently, this article proposes four normative considerations to guide the initiatives of African societies in their deployment of the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, namely, inclusiveness to meet the needs of all human beings, affordability to bridge the digital divide, respect for cultural identity to guard against cultural imperialism, and an ethical orientation as the over-arching guide to building a truly human society.


Author(s):  
Sibel Yildiz Çankaya ◽  
Bülent Sezen

Modern industry developed over several centuries and three industrial revolutions. Today, we experience the fourth era of the industrial revolution, Industry 4.0. The advance of industrialization brought along many problems, including environmental pollution, global warming, and depletion of natural resources. As a result, the concept of sustainability began to gain importance. Sustainability can be achieved through a balance between economic, social, and environmental processes. In order to establish such balance, businesses need new business models or insights. At this point, Industry 4.0 can be regarded as a new business mindset that will help businesses and communities move towards sustainable development. The technologies used by Industry 4.0 bear a strong promise to solve these problems, after all. Even though Industry 4.0 attracts a lot of attention lately, few works are available on its impact on sustainability. This chapter examines the impact of Industry 4.0 on sustainability.


2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 279-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Gollan

PurposeThis article will outline a number of issues for organizations to consider when pursuing sustainable high performance workplace outcomes through high involvement management (HIM) initiatives and identifies those outcomes, which reinforce corporate profitability and corporate survival, and those that satisfy employee aspirations and needs in the workplace.Design/methodology/approachA model is presented that highlights the major factors, influences and outcomes of human resource sustainability in organizations. The paper then advocates an integrated model of the HIM process, emphasising the influence of organizational culture and the impact of the external environment based on human resources capabilities and sustainable organizational outcomes.FindingsOverall, what can be drawn from the research is that high quality communication and consultation between management and employees at the workplace is essential in achieving HIM and improved organizational performance and sustainable outcomes for organizations and employees.Research limitations/implicationsImportantly, the current evidence suggests that there are a number of necessary conditions when implementing HIM processes and approach: the research suggests management should inform, train and equip shopfloor employees to make decisions at their workplace and share ownership in the process.Practical implicationsThe practical implications are that managers need to reassess the role and level of the HR function, specifically its role in persuading organizations to adopt practices that support a sustainable approach.Originality/valueOnly by acknowledging the importance of employee satisfaction and commitment through the development of integrated employee consultation, organizational change, work and life policies, workplace institutions and comprehensive career development programs, will the organization achieve greater efficiency, and productivity.


Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ojo-Fafore ◽  
◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa ◽  
Wellington Thwala

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) is gradually gaining momentum in a wide range, and as it gathers pace, innovations are becoming faster, more efficient, and widely accessible than before. However, due to the outbreak of Covid 19, the world had seen a shift in the traditional ways in all aspects of human activities, especially in the socio-economic sector. This paper explores the effect of Covid19 on the development of the fourth industrial revolution in the Southern African region and will review the literature on pandemic and its effect on industrial revolutions. It will also review the literature on the fourth industrial revolution, the spread of the Covid 19 pandemic, and its effect on the development of the fourth industrial revolution in Southern Africa.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
Péter Krecz ◽  
Andrea Herneczky ◽  
József Csernák ◽  
Aranka Baranyi

Special attention should be paid to the human factors that influence the competitiveness of companies when analysing the correlations of economic processes. It is no longer controversial today that human capital is an important and crucial factor in a company's performance. The efficient, effective contribution of human resources to an organization's success depends to a large extent on how it can ensure employees' motivation in the long run. Robotics and automation are gaining more and more ground nowadays. In our study we explore how employee motivation is influenced by the rapid and widespread use of robotics. The industrial revolution that is still going on today is bringing enormous changes. The industrial revolutions that happened earlier in history have fundamentally changed the lives of people and have always posed serious challenges to various economic actors. Changes have had a dual impact in the past. On the one hand, industrial production has resulted in a change in the economy and, on the other hand, a huge change in the social structure. In recent years, mechanization has seemed extreme, but this phase must be seen today as a natural part of daily life.


2020 ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Emiliia Prushkivska ◽  
Artem Tkachuk

Purpose. The aim of the article is to assess the impact of Industry 4.0 on employment in Ukraine and the world. The following tasks are set to achieve this goal: to analyse the historical impact of industrial revolutions on employment, including the characteristics of changes in its structure, as well as professional composition; highlight how the fourth industrial revolution differs from the previous three; consider the structure of available vacancies in Ukraine and assess how the national labour market is subject to automation. Methodology of research. This article uses the historical and logical unity method to analyse the impact of industrial revolutions on employment, as well as a comparison method to highlight the distinguishing features of Industry 4.0. A graphical method is applied to assess the sectorial structure of vacancies prone to automation in Ukraine. Findings. Industry 4.0 has been found to have common and distinctive features of the impact on employment with the previous three industrial revolutions. The structure of employment at different historical stages is analysed. It was found out that its structure is actively changing now; new professions and whole branches of application of human labour are appearing. The structure of the labour market in Ukraine is considered. It has been proved that Industry 4.0 can exacerbate inequalities between different sections of the population and lead to the disappearance of a large number of occupations, which today employ half of the workforce of national economies. Originality. An analytical approach to the definition of professions that are most prone to automation in the context of the fourth industrial revolution in the Ukrainian labour market has received further development. This approach simultaneously takes into account modern foreign practices and the national statistical base. Practical value. The obtained results in the course of the study can be used in the development of state programs to support employment in the national economy. Since people will require retraining and additional training due to the special propensity of their professions to automation and computerization. In addition, the obtained data can be used to determine the priority areas of state funding for educational institutions, which in the future will reduce youth unemployment. Key words: employment, the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, national economy, influence, industry structure, automation, computerization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 11695
Author(s):  
Alexandrina Maria Pauceanu ◽  
Nada Rabie ◽  
Ayman Moustafa ◽  
Daniel Constantin Jiroveanu

The main aim of this study was to clarify the current literary inconsistencies regarding the characteristics of entrepreneurial leadership and its impact on sustainability. Additionally, another aim was to establish the framework of entrepreneurial leadership and to highlight the main gaps in the entrepreneurial leadership literature. The entrepreneurial leadership literature started to develop recently as a new leadership style that is required to fulfill the current business changes in the fourth industrial revolution. The researchers conducted a narrative literature review to assess the status of entrepreneurial leadership in academia, literature gaps, and the impact of entrepreneurial leadership on the sustainability performance of organizations. Furthermore, the researchers main aim was to investigate the following research question: is entrepreneurial leadership a fixed or a multidimensional concept that differs based on industry, context, and firm size? Regarding the answer to this question, the current study found that entrepreneurial leadership is a multidimensional concept as it is reflected in different perspectives, which indicates the inconsistency of the characteristics of entrepreneurial leadership claimed in the literature. Research limitations—the current study focused on assessing the literature review status of entrepreneurial leadership. Based on that, this study’s limitation is represented in not focusing on testing entrepreneurial leadership’s impact on sustainability either quantitatively or qualitatively. On the contrary, it contributed by analyzing the status of the entrepreneurial leadership literature. Future studies need to further assess this relationship between both concepts and reach an agreement about the common characteristics of entrepreneurial leadership. Originality/value—the current study contributes to the entrepreneurial leadership literature as it highlighted the existing gaps and the inconsistency in the literature. Additionally, it contributed theoretically by connecting entrepreneurial leadership to the existing literature. Furthermore, empirically, it highlighted the contribution of entrepreneurial leadership by emphasizing the impact of it on organizational sustainable development performance. This study represents a call for scholars to focus more on entrepreneurial leadership given its contribution to organizational performance.


E-conom ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-104
Author(s):  
László Koloszár ◽  
Nikoletta Németh

The usage of the terms the ’Fourth Industrial Revolution’ and its predominantly used synonym ‘Industry 4.0’ has curved upwards at a higher rate than the number of underlying interconnected production units. The concept of Industry 4.0 originates from a project on the high-tech strategy of the German government in 2011. This project promoted the computerization of manufacturing and it was a logical suggestion for the long-term competitiveness of the German economy. The fundamentals of an export-oriented economy need system-level development not to be disadvantaged in the global competition. Building all this on the most modern technologies can be defined as a traditional step. The umbrella term ’Industry 4.0’ has outgrown this step and in 2016 it became an independent agenda item of the World Economic Forum. In this study, with the help of a literature review, we examine which factors of this so-called fourth industrial revolution are similar and which factors are different compared to the previous industrial revolutions. Can the characteristics of industrial revolutions be identified? Is the impact complex and does it influence not only the technology but also the society, the politics, etc.? Whether the use of the term is substantiated or is it only an advanced, fashionable buzzer hanging all today’s forward-looking innovations on the same peg?


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