Change of the Paradigm of Competitiveness in the Conditions of Industry 4.0

This study was inspired by the interest in examining the impact of innovative modern technologies associated with Industry 4.0 upon the competitive advantage of companies. This approach resulted in formulation of a new paradigm of competitiveness, as an innovative contribution to the theory and practice of strategies of competitiveness. The postulated paradigm represents a holistic construct characterized by clear departure from the established of knowledge in this segment of studies. The original character of observations and findings presented in this study is evidenced in the following: - challenging the established view by M.E. Porter which holds that, at any given time, a company may in principle adopt only one of the available three strategic approaches, namely: low cost strategy, quality strategy, or the strategy of concentration (exploitation of market niches). - demonstrating that the application of modern and innovative Industry 4.0 solutions (artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, the Internet of things, 3D printing, nanomaterials) will allow for concurrent realization of all four strategic approaches described below. - formulating a new paradigm of competitiveness holding that, under the conditions of Industry 4.0, it may be possible to pursue a holistic approach to competitive strategies of companies, involving production of items described by: low cost; high quality; adjustment to the requirements of individual consumers (mass customization); The study belongs in the realm of futurology and is largely based on the use of predictive analytic techniques, synthesis and induction. It based on the selective literature of the subject and is the result of desk research.