Identifying aspects of social sustainability in the context of digitalised production: a scoping review

Abstract

While numerous studies investigate the social impacts of digital technologies in production, the literature lacks a comprehensive and explicit identification of the aspects constituting social sustainability in this context. As these impacts are context-dependent and vary across technologies, sectors and cultural settings, a systematic mapping of relevant aspects is necessary to support informed action during the sector's transformation. This study therefore conducts a scoping review to identify and structure aspects of social sustainability in the context of digitalised production. Evidence was retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science and IEEE Xplore, yielding 13,472 publications. After abstract and full-text screening, 273 English-language journal articles, conference papers and anthology chapters (2009–2024) explicitly addressing one aspect of social sustainability in the context of digitalised production were included. Aspects were charted through extraction, coding and grouping, resulting in 603 distinct aspects. These were synthesised into a hierarchical framework comprising six main aspects and 45 sub-aspects. While the framework should be regarded as a guiding structure rather than a definitive classification, it provides a conceptual foundation for future impact assessments, indicator development and decision-making on the social dimensions of digitalised production, particularly for researchers, practitioners and policy stakeholders.