Introduction of Smart Working in the Enterprises of Russia and Italy: Case Study

Abstract

The article focuses on the issues of transformation of labour relations between employers and employees of Russian and Italian enterprises due to the processes of digitization which determine the possibility of introducing new technologies in the organization of labour. One of the objectives of the research presented in the article is to analyse the advantages and shortcomings of the new management philosophy, to assess the impact of its introduction into the organization of work on the employee well-being and the level of social pollution in the sphere of labour relations. The case study method was used in the framework of an integrated approach, and was supplemented with an analysis of the narratives of Italian and Russian employees of enterprises operating in the information services industry. A comparative analysis of the empirical data obtained by the authors revealed the similarities and differences in the conditions and processes related to the introduction of the smart working technology into the organization of labour. The authors identified the attitude of the smart personnel in both countries to the new managerial philosophy, as well as the factors adversely affecting the quality of their working life. The scientific contribution of the research is the study and evaluation of one of the emerging phenomena of the new labour economy, which is developing in 4.0 industry and leads to the emergence of new forms of labour relations. © 2020 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.