(Challanges and Benefits of Industry 4.0 by considering Workforce Diversity: A Conceptual Framework)

Abstract

Purpose – This research aims at demonstrating how Industry 4.0 shapes workforce diversity by considering the reports of organisations that are in the field of technology. Design/Methodology/Approach – In order to achieve this aim, a documantary analysis was conducted on the reports of organisations that are related to technological advancement, change and transformation. In this context, 21 reports from three organisations are evaluated. The lack of reports and scholarly research in this field are the main limitations for this research. Also, since we only consider Turkish institutions, this is another limitation. Findings – Based on the multiple level of analysis, the findings are (i) juridical/legal challanges, government policies and the conditions of technologic adaption in macro-social level; (ii) service quality level and interaction with stakeholder in meso-organisational level; and (iii) diversity approach and employee psychology in micro-individual level. Discussion – The main contribution of this research to the literature is to demonstrate the exclusion of minorities and disadvantaged groups in the reports and scholarly research. For this reason, we suggest the future studies that are related to Industry 4.0 considering workforce diversity and how technology shapes discrimination within the context of Industry 4.0 in order to protect them against digital discrimination.