Industry 4.0 and the premises for organizational decision-making: a multi-layer analysis

Purpose The article approaches Industry 4.0 through the lens of social systems theory. It studies the impact of Industry 4.0 as a strategic initiative on organizational programs setting the premises for decision communication. Design/methodology/approach The study proceeds interpretively on seminal publications on Industry 4.0 and a collection of documents on application. Using hermeneutic analysis, it identifies criteria for correct decision-making on four layers of organization in society that are addressed in literature. Findings Different criteria are identified for the manufacturing sector as a whole, national industrial complexes, single companies and their systemic substructures. All of them are relatable to the idea of keeping the respective organizations in charge of the ongoing digital transformation by demonstrating innovativeness. Originality/value The study draws attention to the role of Industry 4.0 in communication constituting organization through decisions. It enables a discussion of strengths and weaknesses from a new perspective, giving a more nuanced account of Industry 4.0 as a strategic initiative.