Managerial Competencies for Human Brains and Mechanical Muscles Interplay; A Study of Automotive Industries

Industry 5.0 is a complex phenomenon emphasising integrating advanced technologies with human-centric principles to drive innovation and productivity. Industry 5.0 requires extensive technological, managerial and organisational capabilities to create value through the seamless interplay between humans and machines. Personalised, high-quality products are available faster and cheaper when human brains work harmoniously with mechanical muscles. The Cobot-human relationship is symbiotic, strengthening humans and machines to complete production processes. Considering how human agents will acquire the skills necessary to act autonomously and progress the techno-social revolution in an Industry 5.0 setting is critical. To be human-centric, resilient, and sustainable, industry 5.0 development is from the standpoint of distinct managers’ understandings of skills, roles, and responses. Insights from the pertinent academic literature and exploratory qualitative research techniques were used to establish critical managerial competencies for long-term contribution to humanity. Primary data collected through in-depth interviews with managers in 10 different automotive industries were analysed to highlight human-centricity, resilience, and sustainability factors, which can assist automotive industries in propagating Industry 5.0 usage. This study shall contribute to creating a paradigm shift that requires the management’s role to change from profit-centricity to human-centricity, thereby improving productivity. This study shall contribute to information system research and project management research. This research provides essential insights to business groups, policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders working to build the skills necessary for a sustainable business.