The many scholars approaching Industry 4.0 today need to confront the lack of an agreed-upon definition, posing serious limitations to theory building and research comparability. Since its initial ...German conceptualization in 2011, both the technological landscape and the understanding of the Industry 4.0 have evolved significantly leading to several ambiguities. In parallel, similar concepts often used as synonyms − such as “smart manufacturing”, “digital transformation”, and “fourth industrial revolution” − have increased the sense of confusion around the scope and characteristics of the phenomenon.
This study approaches the issue through an analysis of almost 100 definitions of Industry 4.0 and related concepts. The review of academic publications has been complemented by a selection of the most influential non-academic sources, including governmental bodies and consulting companies. Each definition has been broken down into its underlying technological and non-technological definitional elements. This categorization will serve as a basis for future research to approach the phenomenon in its multiple facets.
•Lack of agreed-upon definition poses limitations to theory building and research comparability.•Industry 4.0 definitional elements have been identified analyzing almost 100 academic and non-academic papers.•Coding categories: label, scope, key enabling technologies, other enablers, distinctive characteristics, expected outcomes.•Findings serve as basis for three research directions and concrete implications for academia and practice.
•Confirmed trends: increasing relevance of data, servitization, sustainability.•Segment-specific trends: new production modes, reshoring.•Eight possible scenarios are formulated, as I4.0 is bound to ...context-specific variations.•Key drivers: demand characteristics, data transparency, additive manufacturing/advanced robotics, and smart products.
Industry 4.0 is expected to impart profound changes to the configuration of manufacturing companies with regards to what their value proposition will be and how their production network, supplier base and customer interfaces will develop. The literature on the topic is still fragmented; the features of the emerging paradigm appear to be a contested territory among different academic disciplines. This study assumes a value chain perspective to analyze the evolutionary trajectories of manufacturing companies. We developed a Delphi-based scenario analysis involving 76 experts from academia and practice. The results highlight the most common expectations as well as controversial issues in terms of emerging business models, size, barriers to entry, vertical integration, rent distribution, and geographical location of activities. Eight scenarios provide a concise outlook on the range of possible futures. These scenarios are based on four main drivers which stem from the experts’ comments: demand characteristics, transparency of data among value chain participants, maturity of additive manufacturing and advanced robotics, and penetration of smart products. Researchers can derive from our study a series of hypotheses and opportunities for future research on Industry 4.0. Managers and policymakers can leverage the scenarios in long-term strategic planning.
Purpose This study analyzes the performance implications of adopting blockchain to support supply chain business processes. The technology holds as many promises as implementation challenges, so ...interest in its impact on operational performance has grown steadily over the last few years. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on transaction cost economics and the contingency theory, we built a set of hypotheses. These were tested through a long-term event study and an ordinary least squares regression involving 130 adopters listed in North America. Findings Compared with the control sample, adopters displayed significant abnormal performance in terms of labor productivity, operating cycle and profitability, whereas sales appeared unaffected. Firms in regulated settings and closer to the end customer showed more positive effects. Neither industry-level competition nor the early involvement of a project partner emerged as relevant contextual factors. Originality/value This research presents the first extensive analysis of operational performance based on objective measures. In contrast to previous studies and theoretical predictions, the results indicate that blockchain adoption is not associated with sales improvement. This can be explained considering that secure data storage and sharing do not guarantee the factual credibility of recorded data, which needs to be proved to customers in alternative ways. Conversely, improvements in other operational performance dimensions confirm that blockchain can support inter-organizational transactions more efficiently. The results are relevant in times when, following hype, there are signs of disengagement with the technology.
PurposeA positive outlook on the impact of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) on sustainability prevails in the literature. However, some studies have highlighted potential areas of concern that have not yet been ...systematically addressed. The goal of this study is to challenge the assumption of a sustainable Fourth Industrial Revolution by (1) identifying the possible unintended negative impacts of I4.0 technologies on sustainability; (2) highlighting the underlying motivations and potential actions to mitigate such impacts; and (3) developing and evaluating alternative assumptions on the impacts of I4.0 technologies on sustainability.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on a problematization approach, a systematic literature review was conducted to develop potential alternative assumptions about the negative impacts of I4.0 on sustainability. Then, a Delphi study was carried out with 43 experts from academia and practice to evaluate the alternative assumptions. Two rounds of data collection were performed until reaching the convergence or stability of the responses.FindingsThe results highlight various unintended negative effects on environmental and social aspects that challenge the literature. The reasons behind the high/low probability of occurrence, the severity of each impact in the next five years and corrective actions are also identified. Unintended negative environmental effects are less controversial than social effects and are therefore more likely to generate widely accepted theoretical propositions. Finally, the alternative hypothesis ground is partially accepted by the panel, indicating that the problematization process has effectively opened up new perspectives for analysis.Originality/valueThis study is one of the few to systematically problematize the assumptions of the I4.0 and sustainability literature, generating research propositions that reveal several avenues for future research.
PurposeAfter 15 years of research, this paper aims to present a review of the academic literature on the ISO/IEC 27001, the most renowned standard for information security and the third most ...widespread ISO certification. Emerging issues are reframed through the lenses of social systems thinking, deriving a theory-based research agenda to inspire interdisciplinary studies in the field.Design/methodology/approachThe study is structured as a systematic literature review.FindingsResearch themes and sub-themes are identified on five broad research foci: relation with other standards, motivations, issues in the implementation, possible outcomes and contextual factors.Originality/valueThe study presents a structured overview of the academic body of knowledge on ISO/IEC 27001, providing solid foundations for future research on the topic. A set of research opportunities is outlined, with the aim to inspire future interdisciplinary studies at the crossroad between information security and quality management. Managers interested in the implementation of the standard and policymakers can find an overview of academic knowledge useful to inform their decisions related to implementation and regulatory activities.
Despite the hype about blockchains among supply chain management (SCM) practitioners and researchers, the technology's adoption is still low, and confusion remains about its potential benefits for ...operational efficiency and effectiveness. Building on a multiple case study research, this paper clarifies current value creation opportunities enabled by the blockchain for product/material tracking and tracing. We highlight that the setup of blockchain projects depends on the presence of different drivers on customer value or efficiency and the focus towards products/components or raw materials. Based on how tracking and tracing drivers and focus influence the initial blockchain setup, contingent factors are discussed and possible evolutionary patterns are identified. These findings are elaborated in one setup matrix and three propositions. The study is one of the few to add empirical evidence to the mainly conceptual SCM blockchain literature and provides a middle-range theoretical contribution based on contingency theory. Furthermore, it offers actionable guidance for managers and policy makers about SCM blockchain adoption.
Purpose This study aims to analyze the factors that drive or prevent interorganizational data sharing in the context of digital transformation (DT). Data sharing appears as a precondition for ...companies to capture emerging opportunities in supply chain management and for product-related servitization; however, there are ongoing concerns, and data are often perceived as the “new oil.” It is thus important to gain a better understanding of the determinants of firms’ decisions. Design/methodology/approach The authors develop an embedded case study analysis involving 16 firms within an extended supply network in the automotive industry. The authors focus on the peculiarities of the new context, as opposed to elements highlighted by research prior to the advent of the latest technologies. Abductive reasoning is applied to the theoretical foundations of the resource-based view, resource dependence theory and the complex adaptive systems perspective. Findings Data sharing is largely underpinned by factors identified prior to DT, such as data specificity, dependence dynamics and protection mechanisms and the dynamism of the business context. DT, however, can influence the extent of data sharing. New factors concern complementarities whenever data are pooled from different sources and digital platforms, as well as different forms of data ownership protection. Originality/value This study stresses that data sharing in the context of DT can be explained through established theoretical lenses, providing the integration of elements accounting for new technological opportunities.
Although protecting information is the key challenge in a business environment characterized by increasing digitalization and connectivity, the impact of firms’ investments in information security on ...their financial performance is unclear. In this paper, we focus on ISO/IEC 27001 (i.e., the most renowned norm in the field and the fourth most widespread ISO standard) and analyze the relationship between the attainment of the certification and firms’ financial performance. We developed a set of theory-grounded hypotheses and tested them through a long-term event study complemented by an ordinary least squares regression on a dataset of 143 US-listed companies. The results indicate that the ISO/IEC 27001 certification is associated with improvements in profitability, labor productivity, and (partially) sales performance. The impact appears affected by the level of internationalization of the certified firm. The study contributes to the scientific debate on information security and certifications by developing the first large-scale empirical investigation based on secondary data on the financial implications of ISO/IEC 27001. Moreover, we further deepen the current knowledge on the effects of international management standards on firms’ performance thus enabling comparisons with other major management system standards.
•The financial impact of information security investments is investigated.•A long-term event-study approach is adopted on a dataset of 143 US-listed firms.•Three lenses are used: High-Reliability Organization, Signaling, Contingency Theory.•ISO/IEC 27001 improves profitability, labor productivity, and (partially) sales performance.•The outcomes are affected by the internationalization level of the implementing firm.
This article outlines the main methodological implications of using Bloomberg SPLC, FactSet Supply Chain Relationships, and Mergent Supply Chain for academic purposes. These databases provide ...secondary data on buyer–supplier relationships that have been publicly disclosed. Despite the growing use of these databases in supply chain management (SCM) research, several potential validity and reliability issues have not been systematically and openly addressed. This article thus expounds on challenges of using these databases that are caused by (1) inconsistency between data, SCM constructs, and research questions (data fit); (2) errors caused by the databases' classifications and assumptions (data accuracy); and (3) limitations due to the inclusion of only publicly disclosed buyer–supplier relationships involving specific focal firms (data representativeness). The analysis is based on a review of previous studies using Bloomberg SPLC, FactSet Supply Chain Relationships, and Mergent Supply Chain, publicly available materials, interviews with information service providers, and the direct experience of the authors. Some solutions draw upon established methodological literature on the use of secondary data. The article concludes by providing summary guidelines and urging SCM researchers toward greater methodological transparency when using these databases.
Environmental sustainability has gained momentum in the business world and academia. After about 20 years of research in this field, this paper presents a holistic literature review specifically ...focused on ISO 14001, which is widely considered the most important environmental certification. The authors apply an antecedents-process-consequences framework to analyze systematically the scientific debate in this field. They identify six streams of ISO 14001 research, that is, drivers, barriers, tools and methods, impact on performances, enabling factors affecting adoption, and enabling factors affecting performances. The authors then summarize these research streams and highlight conflicting results and unexplored research areas. Finally, they propose a theory-based research agenda.
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