Organizational excellence: A paradigm for building performance through soft skills in Industry 5.0

With the emergence of Industry 5.0, organizations are shifting from a technology-driven model to one centered on a human-centric framework, emphasizing the coordination between humans and machines. Amid this evolving industrial landscape, the importance of soft skills has significantly increased. This study investigates the role of five essential soft skills—leadership, communication, teamwork, creativity, and emotional intelligence—in achieving organizational excellence. Based on data gathered from 367 employees across various organizations, the study employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS- SEM) to test the proposed conceptual model. The findings confirm that the five soft skills under investigation have strong positive correlations with organizational success, thereby affirming their crucial role in driving innovation, flexibility, and sustainable performance in human–machine cooperative environments. The study aims to bridge a critical gap in the literature by integrating soft skills into the Industry 5.0 discussion, where existing research has concentrated on technological competence over the human dimension. Although organizations acknowledge the value of soft skills, their systematic integration into organizational models remains unbalanced. This research contributes to existing literature by presenting a systematic framework that underscores the importance of incorporating soft skills into organizational planning and development to achieve excellence. It offers practical implications for human resource practitioners, policymakers, and managers seeking to future-proof their employees and enhance their performance in rich digital environments. Additionally, it lays the groundwork for future research by suggesting longitudinal studies and industry-specific assessments to further the understanding of soft skills in various Industry 5. 0 contexts. This research supports the growing theoretical and practical debate surrounding Industry 5. 0 by highlighting the essential role of human capabilities in ensuring lasting organizational success amidst sophisticated technologies and co-innovation.