The Mediating Role of Organizational Culture in the Effect of Businesses' Industry 4.0 Awareness on Innovation: An Application on <scp>OSTİM OIZ</scp> Clusters

ABSTRACT This research seeks to evaluate the mediating role of organizational culture by examining the impact of awareness of Industry 4.0 technologies on the innovation capacity of enterprises. The study, which was conducted on enterprises operating in OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ), one of Turkey's leading industrial zones, revealed how increased awareness of Industry 4.0 impacts the ability to adopt and implement technological innovations and evaluated how organizational culture serves as a mediator in this relationship. A quantitative research method was used in the study. Data was collected from employees within the OSTİM OIZ cluster using a survey method. Specifically, responses from 408 participants were analyzed. Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the data using the SmartPLS program. The findings show that Industry 4.0 awareness in enterprises positively affects innovation. Additionally, it was determined that clan and hierarchy cultures, which are types of organizational culture, play a mediating role. As a result, this study reveals in detail the effects of awareness of Industry 4.0 technologies and organizational culture on the innovation processes of enterprises. It also emphasizes the importance of organizational culture for businesses to make the most of this new wave of technological transformation.