Co-authored with Indian researchers, Tarik Saikouk conducted a study in India on ‘Decent work and economic growth’.
INDUSTRY 4.0... AS MUCH A CULTURAL AS A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE!
'Decent work and economic growth' - This 8th UN sustainable development goal has been addressed in a recent study, published in August, by Tarik Saikouk, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at Excelia. It was undertaken in India in the light of an emerging economy and co-authored with Indian researchers.
The 4th industrial revolution, digital technologies, has consequences that present many challenges for companies: they must not only be part of the digital transformation, but must also be able to successfully involve people in it! This research therefore focusses on humans and their environment and shows that if human beings learn how to adapt, they can also take a stance regarding coexistence with technologies, that are sometimes felt to be intrusive.
In terms of methodology, two studies were undertaken. The first was based on semi-structured interviews with managers, professors, experts (e.g. in Management Control) and HR consultants to explore the 'how?', to gather their experiences and to determine the jobs that will soon become obsolete and to identify the future needs of companies and individuals. In addition to recruiting talent, and considering job appeal, employee retention and assessment, this study poses a fundamental question: how can we develop the skills of people who need to be retrained, including those who cannot/will not?
The second study, conducted using a fuzzy best-worst method, consisted of quantifying the qualitative data by seeking a consensus among all the experts who had to be called upon to compensate for the scant literature. The conclusion? Faced with a shortage of skills and insufficient vocational training, which creates fear and a generational crisis, training and support are determining factors. In this respect, the very survival of the company depends on its HR strategy! As an experienced teacher, Tarik is quite clear: 'People think that their whole career will be based on their qualifications, whereas we have seen with the health crisis that it is important to develop one's resilience in order to be prepared for the unknown!'
