The aim of this article is to present the changes referred to as the “fourth industrial revolution” and the role of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in accelerating the technological revolution in relation to Polish companies. The ongoing economic downturn has different causes and much broader effects than previous crises. Hence the need to analyze trends (megatrends) in the emergence of innovations initiated or significantly accelerated by the pandemic crisis, and consequently, among other things, the intensification of the (...) digital transformation process. The study has a theoretical and empirical character. For the research, the authors used the descriptive method with elements of statistical data analysis. The analysis was based on reports of such institutions as the World Intellectual Property Organization, the European Commission and the Central Statistical Office. (shrink)

The aim of the article is an attempt to analyze the impact of the pandemic crisis on innovations created by economic entities. The ongoing economic downturn has reasons different from previous economic peturbations, and has much more extensive effects across the entire global economy. Hence the need to analyze not individual economies as trends in the emergence of innovations initiated or significantly accelerated by the pandemic crisis. The analysis was made on the basis of reports from institutions such as the (...) World Economic Forum, OECD or ESPAS, as well as preliminary studies conducted in some countries. It should be emphasized that due to the ongoing perturbations and the pandemic not ending, precise research results will be possible to obtain in later years. (shrink)

The fourth industrial revolution, characterized by the development of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and automation, is radically changing the context of functioning of modern enterprises. In this environment, innovation is a key element of competitive advantage, and organizational culture is one of the fundamental factors enabling effective implementation of innovations. The aim of this article is to analyze the role of organizational culture as a catalyst for innovation in enterprises in the era of Industry (...) 4.0. The paper discusses the basic elements of organizational culture, such as openness to change, cooperation between teams and organizational flexibility, which are of key importance in innovation processes. On this basis, conclusions are formulated regarding the impact of organizational culture on the ability of enterprises to compete and develop in a dynamically changing economic environment. The study has a theoretical and empirical character. For the research, the authors used the descriptive method with elements of statistical data analysis. The analysis was based on reports of such institutions as the World Economic Forum, McKinsey and secondary data regarding Polish enterprises. (shrink)