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The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underscores eradicating global poverty (Goal#1) and empowering women and girls (Goal#5) to foster sustainable, inclusive communities (Goal#11). The World Bank recognises female entrepreneurship as a catalyst for global economic growth, poverty reduction and gender equity. This chapter delves into the challenges hindering female entrepreneurship, obstructing poverty alleviation and community sustainability efforts worldwide. Public–private collaborations are crucial to support women in launching start-ups, adopting new technologies, enhancing digital skills and accessing financing in the era of Industry 4.0.

Our focus is on women entrepreneurship in BRICS nations due to their diverse growth trajectories and global economic significance. Employing a qualitative approach, we analyse public and private initiatives promoting female entrepreneurship in BRICS countries. Our findings highlight both commonalities and distinctions in their strategies and policies, implicitly contributing to poverty reduction and social and economic growth. This chapter not only identifies barriers faced by women entrepreneurs but also underscores factors fuelling their ventures. It offers a practical toolkit for scholars, policymakers and practitioners (entrepreneurs and consultants) to devise tailored strategies and actions for local growth and intervention. The study comprises four parts: the introduction, setting the chapter's goal and previewing outcomes; the second part, exploring female entrepreneurship as a key to poverty alleviation and community sustainability; the core, the third part, unveiling in-depth BRICS country analysis; and the conclusion, summarising implications and highlighting avenues for further research.

This paper uses dialectical inquiry to explore tensions that arise when adopting Industry 4.0 technologies in a lean production system and their reconciliation mechanisms.

We conducted an in-depth qualitative case study over a 3-year period on an Italian division of an international electrotechnical organisation that produces electrical switches. This organisation successfully adopted Industry 4.0 technologies in a lean production system. The study is based on primary data such as observations and semi-structured interviews, along with secondary data.

We identify four empirically validated dialectic tensions arising across different Industry 4.0 adoption stages due to managers’ and workers’ contrasting interpretations of technologies. Consequently, we define the related reconciliation mechanisms that allow the effective adoption of various Industry 4.0 technologies to support a lean production system.

This is the first empirical investigation of tensions in the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in a lean production system. Furthermore, the paper presents four theoretical propositions and a conceptual model describing which tensions arise during the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in a lean production system and the reconciliation mechanisms that prevent lean production system deterioration.

The purpose of this study is to explore how Industry 4.0 (I40) technologies support workers' engagement in soft total quality management (TQM) practices for organisational performance.

The authors conducted a multiple case study of six Italian manufacturing organisations that operate with I40 production and implement TQM practices. The authors concentrated on the relationship between I40 technologies and soft TQM aspects.

I40 technologies provide two forms of engagement with workers. Workers can act as machine supervisors and expert assembly operators. Organisations use five soft TQM practices to involve and develop workers for TQM that vary according to automation levels. The five soft TQM practices are top management design around workers, incremental trials with I40 technologies, worker empowerment, I40 sociotechnical collaboration and individual feedback systems.

In the literature that focusses primarily on how I40 technologies support the hard side of TQM by creating a data-driven and automated quality management system, the authors illustrate how the workforce can be engaged in I40 with five soft TQM practices to improve organisational performance. Thus, the authors complement the theory of hard and soft TQM aspects for I40 production systems.

This study aims to provide an overall framework that connects and explains a macro-perspective of the findings from the five studies of this special issue. Through this, we aim to answer two main questions: How can Lean and Industry 4.0 be integrated, and what are the outcomes for workers from such integration?

The special issue received 64 papers that were evaluated in multiple stages until this final sample of five papers that describe different facets of the integration between Lean and Industry 4.0 and their relationship with worker activities. In this introduction, we review the main findings of these five studies and propose an integrative view and associated propositions. A discussion provides directions to advance the field further.

The framework shows that when Lean and Industry 4.0 are integrated, companies will face two types of tensions, dialectical and paradoxical, which require different managerial approaches. By managing such tensions, the Lean-Industry 4.0 integration can help improve social performance, as well as develop systematic problem-solving and cumulative learning capabilities. Five important themes for this field of research are outlined: the importance of work routines, legitimation, competence, sense and mental flexibility.

This study brings a new theoretical perspective to the integration of Lean with Industry 4.0-related digital technologies. The results go beyond the usual view of improving operational performance and dig into the effects on workers. It also shows that the integration process relies on and can enhance human capabilities such as learning and problem-solving.

The purpose of this study is to investigate how Industry 4.0 (IR 4.0) operates within the context of the post-COVID-19 environment and its impact on the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the manufacturing industry in a developing economy. By delving into this subject, the authors aim to understand the mechanisms through which IR 4.0 influences various facets of sustainability within the manufacturing sector.

A cross-sectional research design is used using purposive sampling and hypotheses were developed based on seminal theories and literature. Data was collected from 191 Malaysian manufacturing firms that use IR 4.0 technologies. The partial least squares structural equation modeling technique was used to explore how post-COVID uncertainty environment impacts manufacturing sustainability through IR 4.0 adoption.

During the highly uncertain era of the post-COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of IR 4.0 adoption has had a favorable effect on the manufacturing industry, enhancing process efficiency, automation and data granularity. However, it is worth noting that automation does not significantly contribute to environmental sustainability and data granularity does not have a noteworthy impact on economic sustainability. On the other hand, process efficiency has a positive and significant influence on all three dimensions of sustainability. Moreover, data granularity positively affects environmental sustainability, whereas automation positively impacts both social and economic sustainability.

This study emphasizes the importance of policy interventions to harness the transformative power of IR 4.0 and address the identified concerns. In addition, the findings offer valuable insights for mid-level operational managers, enabling them to actively participate in the creation of sustainable policies in partnership with top management. It is expected that these actions, which involve making necessary adjustments in the manufacturing process, will yield tangible outcomes for sustainable development.

This study offers valuable insights into the relationship between the uncertain post-COVID-19 environment, referred to as hyper-uncertainty and the adoption of IR 4.0 in the context of manufacturing sustainability.

This study aims to investigate the role of women in business leadership, specifically the effect of women on boards (WoB) on corporate environmental responsibility engagement (CERE) and corporate financial performance (CFP) in the Indonesian manufacturing companies. Furthermore, it also examines whether CERE mediates the WoB – CFP relationship.

This is quantitative research using secondary data obtained from the Indonesian Stock Exchange and the website of each company. Using agency theory, upper echelon theory and sustainability theory, 645 firm-year data from the period of 2015–2019 are analysed. The partial least squares structural equation modelling is used to test the hypotheses studied.

The results indicate that WoB is positively associated with CFP and CERE, CERE is positively associated with CFP and CERE mediates the effect of WoB on CFP. The samples are derived from the manufacturing industry; thus, it limits its generalisation. The result implies that investors need to increase the proportion of WoB to enhance CFP. For management, it implies that WoB has an important role in increasing environmental responsibility. For regulators, such as the Indonesian Financial Service Authority, it provides useful information for policymaking in terms of increasing the proportion of WoB and the need for a sustainability report. With increased WoB and CERE, CFP will be better so that society will also gain increased social benefits.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the topic is rarely investigated, especially in the two-tier governance system that uses WoB, CERE and CFP. By investigating the impact of women’s presence on the board of commissioners and the board of directors, this research provides crucial empirical evidence for the agency theory, upper echelon theory and sustainability theory. A new data set also has been created for this research.

The study aims to identify the extent to which industry 4.0 (IR4.0) adoption impacts the sustainable manufacturing (SM) performance of the manufacturing industry, focusing on the comparative analysis between developed and developing economies amid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The study proposes a conceptual model formed on seminal theories and literature using the cross-sectional design. For data collection, a purposive sampling method is used where 154 Malaysian (developing) and Australian (developed) manufacturing firms' data were collected. Partial least square-based structural equation modeling is employed to test the hypothesis and proposed research model.

This study finds that adoption of IR4.0 technologies does not directly influence the sustainability performance of the manufacturing industry, but rather the trajectories of SM (efficiency, flexibility, automation and big data and granularity) fully mediate the relationship between IR4.0 adoption and sustainability manufacturing performance. The comparative analysis between Australia and Malaysia shows no significant difference in the relationships or the framework; hence, the differences between developed and developing countries are not significant in this mechanism.

The study contributes to the insights of the managers regarding COVID-19 and the implementation of IR4.0 in the SM domain. The policymakers would further get better insights since the study pays attention to sustainable development goal, industry, innovation, infrastructure and responsible production.

The purpose of the study is to enhance the extant empirical and conceptual understanding of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) adoption and its repercussions for an organisation operating in an emerging economy, considering the dynamic capabilities framework. The study investigates (1) the potential impact of the I4.0 phenomenon on relationships between organisations and industry actors, (2) the existing effects of I4.0 on these relationships and (3) the necessary measures for organisations to unlock the full potential of I4.0 in order to enhance and reinforce these relationships.

A qualitative method was used. Semi-structured, open-ended face-to-face and online interviews were conducted with 18 directors, managers and chief executive officers (CEOs) of Savico, a leading Vietnamese car dealership.

The analysis revealed various dimensions highlighting impacts on organisation–industry actor relationships. For instance, the “enhancing internal/external operations” dimension highlights the significance of benefitting the company’s close stakeholders through a centralised management system or more advanced functions, while the empowering-nimble outcomes dimension underlines the benefits of I4.0 in enabling performance-based choices and staff empowerment.

Technological phenomena such as the I4.0 regime require constant adaptive strategies, including knowledge acquisition and talent development. Thus, the study has implications for industry stakeholders, including companies, educational institutions and government agencies.

The study’s key value lies in proposing a model that provides conceptual depth into organisation–industry actor relationships. Furthermore, both the analysis and the model can guide researchers in future attempts to examine dynamic capabilities among firms operating in emerging economies, with important practical and theoretical implications.

This chapter examines the integration of Industry 4.0 (IR 4.0) technologies and sustainability, proposing a people-centric strategy to align industrial progress with environmental responsibility. Through a synthesis of scholarly insights and practical applications, we delve into the potential of Industry 4.0 to drive economic, social, legal, and environmental sustainability while addressing key challenges and limitations. Acknowledging these obstacles associated with IR 4.0 implementation, including employment displacement and data security risks, we advocate for collaborative efforts among governments, businesses, and society, highlighting the imperative of optimizing the advantages conferred by IR 4.0 while mitigating its adverse effects on sustainability. It calls for strategic investments in education, innovation, and social protection mechanisms to navigate this transition while ensuring equitable and sustainable development for all stakeholders. As these technologies intertwine, it becomes increasingly crucial to establish regulatory frameworks that can endorse the “rule of law” in this ever-evolving legal landscape. Ensuring fairness and effectiveness in regulation is key to navigating this emergent reality. Through fostering synergistic partnerships, embracing sustainable methodologies, and ensuring that the promise of IR 4.0 is realized without sacrificing the fundamental principles of fairness, justice, and human rights, we can envision a future where innovation thrives in harmony with sustainability principles, paving the way for inclusive prosperity.

In the framework of Industry 4.0, the study seeks to clarify the intricate connection between modern digitalization and sustainability and the ways in which these developing technologies support sustainable practices in the societal, environmental and economic spheres. Utilizing a conceptual framework, this study integrates insights from existing literature and provides a structured investigation to explore the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies, including smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, the internet of things (IoT) and blockchain, on sustainability. The research reveals that the integration of environmental, social, economic and human aspects of sustainability. The study emphasizes how these elements support Industry 4.0 by encouraging moral and sustainable business practices. The insights derived from this research offer practical implications for policymakers, industry leaders and researchers. By understanding the symbiotic relationship between digitalization and sustainability, stakeholders can formulate strategies that leverage new-age technologies to achieve optimal efficiency while ensuring ethical and sustainable business practices. The originality lies in the holistic approach to understanding the environmental, social and economic dimensions impacted by new-age digitalization offering a comprehensive examination of the interplay between Industry 4.0 and sustainability.