ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
The rapid advancement of Industry 4.0 technologies has significantly increased the need for continuous skill development among engineers in the manufacturing sector. While e-learning has emerged as a flexible and scalable solution, its adoption remains inconsistent across organisations. E-learning has emerged as a flexible and scalable solution to support professional learning; however, its adoption remains inconsistent. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework to better understand the factors influencing e-learning adoption among engineers in Malaysia’s manufacturing industry by integrating Innovation Diffusion Theory and Social Cognitive Theory. The framework examines the influence of social influence, cost-effectiveness, and personal innovativeness on e-learning adoption, with self-efficacy as a mediating variable. It is argued that although external and individual factors may encourage initial adoption, self-efficacy plays a crucial role in translating these influences into sustained engagement. By positioning self-efficacy as a central mechanism, the study offers a more nuanced explanation of digital learning behaviour in Industry 4.0 environments. The study contributes to theory by integrating macro-level and micro-level perspectives and offers practical implications for organisations and policymakers seeking to enhance workforce sustainability through e-learning. Future research is recommended to empirically validate the proposed framework across different industrial contexts.
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