Industrie 4.0 – Einflüsse und Auswirkungen auf den Produktentwicklungsprozess, die Organisation und Führung in der deutschen Metall- und Elektroindustrie

This dissertation examines how the product development process is affected by Industrie 4.0 and how this changes the corporate organisation and governance, respectively how it must be modified in order to successfully shape the change process. This successful management of the change process is one of the fundamental prerequisites for securing sustainable competitiveness, thus underscoring the relevance of the study.

While digitalisation and, as part of it, Industrie 4.0 are current megatrends that have an impact on the product development process, company organisation, employee leadership and corporate governance, these dimensions also influence each other. Consequently, this study focuses on the direct impacts on these dimensions and furthermore, on their impact on each other. Industrie 4.0 has not yet been conclusively defined, wherefore this dissertation refers to augmented reality, virtual reality, simulations, and horizontal and vertical integration as technical drivers. To fulfil the objective of this investigation, the frame of reference of this research project is defined as the German metal and electrical industry, as one of the key German industries. In order to be able to represent the metal and electrical industry as accurately as possible, both large as well as small and medium-sized companies were included in the study.

A critical review of the relevant literature on the impact of Industrie 4.0 on leadership and organisational structures reveals a research gap for a holistic research approach that relates to business processes in general and the product development process as one of the primary entrepreneurial processes in particular.

Based on expert interviews, this dissertation reveals new insights into the changes of the product development process, process and organisational structure, employee leadership and corporate governance that result from the influence of entrepreneurial digitalisation and thus prepares the basis for the successful implementation of Industrie 4.0 strategies.