Change Management in SMEs in the Industry 4.0 Era

The main aim of this paper is to evaluate whether the concept of Industry 4.0 influences current change management in small and medium-sized enterprises and what obstacles prevent its wider implementation. An online questionnaire survey was conducted in 2024 to collect data, with 203 respondents from small and medium-sized enterprises participating. The questionnaire focused primarily on topics related to the implementation of changes, awareness of Industry 4.0, and the identification of barriers to the further development of change management and modern technologies. The results show that systematic change management is often neglected in companies, and it was also found that this is particularly the case where the perception of the importance of Industry 4.0 is low. It was also found that companies with a functioning strategy are more successful in implementing change. Financial costs, insufficient employee qualifications, and employee resistance can be identified as important barriers, with these barriers particularly affecting small and micro enterprises. Factor analysis also found that the barriers can be grouped into two main categories. The research confirms that successfully managing change in the era of digitalization requires a systematic approach, management support, and knowledge of change management principles. The paper represents one phase of a broader research project.