Adoption of Industry 4.0 in Developing Countries: Scale Development and Empirical Validation

Purpose: The primary aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable scale for measuring the factors influencing the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in developing countries. By identifying these factors, the study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how developing economies can more effectively manage their transition processes towards Industry 4.0. Methodology: A systematic scale development process was followed in the study. In the initial phase, scale items were generated based on a comprehensive literature review and expert opinions. Subsequently, preliminary tests and pilot applications were conducted to assess the face validity of the scale. In the final phase, survey data collected from a large sample were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the construct validity properties of the scale. Findings: The analysis revealed that the factors influencing the adoption of Industry 4.0 could be categorized into eight distinct dimensions. The developed scale demonstrated high validity and reliability, and its factor structure was confirmed to be robust. Originality: This study represents one of the first systematically developed scales to measure the factors influencing Industry 4.0 adoption in developing countries. Given that the literature on scale development is largely confined to developed nations or specific sectors, this research fills a significant gap within the context of developing countries.