Human Resources Management in Enterprises 4.0: Opportunities, Threats and Challenges for Practice and Theory

Summary

Abstract

Human resources management in modern enterprises has been undergoing numerous transformations. This is also valid for Enterprises 4.0. The unique feature of these enterprises, shaped mainly by a wide application of advanced production technologies, IT systems and demand for employee competencies, which differ from the existing ones, poses serious challenges for their managers and HR specialists. Challenges of this kind as well as opportunities and threats that they involve are subject to discussion in this paper. It also sets the directions and perspectives for further research of this issue that is topical and important for both the theory and practice of management.

Keywords: human resources management, Generation Z, enterprises 4.0, variety, competencies, industrial Revolution

Introduction The concept of Industry 4.0, which originated in Germany, is viewed as the completion of the fourth phase of the so-called “industrial revolution” initiated in the early years of the 21st century. This phase is characterised by a transition from electronic and computerised systems to processes of smart manufacturing systems of the new generation, which have been increasingly applied on an industrial scale. Industry 4.0 can be defined as “a new technological generation” in the field of production, which heads towards the design of manufacturing systems integrating data processing with matter processing. This direction can be called matter digitalisation and its assumptions are implemented in the form of smart factories controlled by Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) in the Internet of Things environment. The birth of Industry 4.0 alters the existing character and “face” of Enterprises 4.0 functioning within its area. Moreover, it generates many demanding challenges for managers operating on various levels of management in those enterprises. They also pave the way for new research approaches and new directions for exploration of diverse processes and phenomena occurring in them.

The aim of the study is to present a synthetic analysis and evaluation of opportunities, threats and challenges in terms of practice as well as to indicate new directions for research in the field of human resources management in Enterprises 4.0.

Synthetic evaluation and analysis of human resources management in Enterprises 4.0

The changing conditions and environment for the functioning of contemporary enterprises, called Enterprises 4.0, result from escalating global competition.