Sustainability in Industry 4.0 Business Practice: Insights From a Multinational Technology Company

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) needs new business practices, which focus on its positive impacts and sustainability. This article presents original empirical research from a multinational engineering company operating in South Africa and the challenges that area managers experience in this organization. It explores the meaning and meaning-making in times of organizational change and transformation within the South African business context. The authors present findings which present the 4IR and sustainability issues in the company and themes which are identified, such as speed, effectivity, and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE). However, findings also indicate that emotions and the human touch are key in technologising work environments. The study further denotes that sustainable business practice requires the constant development of skills and knowledge of employees, as well as the systemic integration of the ecological environment and the care for the eco-system.