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

Authors

  • Rostand Affogbolo OCRE Research Lab, EDC Paris Business School
  • Vincent Dutot Métis Lab, EM Normandie (France)
  • Samuel Fosso Wamba TBS Research Lab, TBS Education (France)

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.

Author Biographies

Rostand Affogbolo, OCRE Research Lab, EDC Paris Business School

PhD, holds a position as Assistant Professor in MIS at EDC Paris Business School. He is the co-chair of the Industry 4.0 Special Interest Group of AIM (Association Information and Management). His research interests include IT business value, digital transformation, IoT and Industry 4.0, and vulnerabilities associated with digital technologies. He has authored and co-authored several conference and journal papers.

Vincent Dutot, Métis Lab, EM Normandie (France)

Full professor of MIS at EM Normandie (France) and a member of the Métis Lab. He holds a MBA and a PhD from Laval University (Canada) and an HDR from IAE Poitiers (France). His undertakes research and consultancy in technology adoption, social media, IT strategy, and digital transformation. In addition to the four books on digital, he has published in ranked journals including Journal of Business Research, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Systèmes d’Information et Management (French Journal of Management Information Systems), International Journal of Information Management, The Journal of Technology Transfer, Psychology & Marketing or European Journal of Innovation Management. He has guest edited several special issues on digital transformation.

Samuel Fosso Wamba, TBS Research Lab, TBS Education (France)

Full Professor at TBS Education, is the Director of the TBS Research Center. He holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering (University of Montreal) and an HDR (University of Evry Val d’Essonne). His research interests include big data, innovation management, digital transformation, supply chain and e-commerce. He has published in several leading journals (Academy of Management Journal, Journal of the Association for Information Systems, European Journal of Information Systems, Information Systems Frontiers, International Journal of Information Management, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, International Journal of Production Economics, British Journal of Management, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Business Research, International Journal of Production Research, Production Planning and Control, Journal of Cleaner Production, Computers & Industrial Engineering, etc.). He also serves on the editorial boards of several leading journals (Business Process Management Journal, Journal of Supply Chain Management Journal, etc.).

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Published

2023-07-01

How to Cite

Affogbolo, R., Dutot, V., & Fosso Wamba, S. (2023). The SMEs’ Journey to Industry 4.0: A Call for More IS Studies. Systèmes d’Information Et Management (French Journal of Management Information Systems), 28(2), 3–21. Retrieved from https://revuesim.org/index.php/sim/article/view/1369

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 2 (2023): Special Issue: Industry 4.0

Section

Editorial

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