IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jadmsc/v13y2023i9p195-d1225896.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Elevating South Africa’s Entrepreneurial Activity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era

Author

Listed:
  • Patrick Ssekitoleko

    (Department of Business Management, College of Business & Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2195, South Africa)

  • Shepherd Dhliwayo

    (Department of Business Management, College of Business & Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2195, South Africa)

Abstract

The objective of this research is to appraise the level of entrepreneurial activity in South Africa and to identify the challenges to implementation of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) that obstruct the leveraging of 4IR technologies to boost entrepreneurial activity in the country. A conceptual exploratory literature review approach was applied. This study’s results show that a high unemployment rate, the quality of entrepreneurial support initiatives, physical infrastructure, enterprise funds and increased economic freedom are enablers of entrepreneurial activity in South Africa. High data costs, poor digital technological preparedness, an unreliable energy supply, data protection and cyber security risks, among other factors, were identified as obstacles to 4IR implementation. We, therefore, recommend a 4IR fund, mandatory data price laws, proactive policing, further public–private partnerships, enhancement of whistle-blower protection laws, among others, as solutions to buoy entrepreneurial activity through application of 4IR technologies. These results signal the need to ensure a synchronized effort by all relevant spheres of government to address the 4IR implementation challenges and enhance entrepreneurial activity for South Africa’s economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Ssekitoleko & Shepherd Dhliwayo, 2023. "Elevating South Africa’s Entrepreneurial Activity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:13:y:2023:i:9:p:195-:d:1225896
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/13/9/195/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/13/9/195/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhongwei Xing, 2018. "The impacts of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and E-commerce on bilateral trade flows," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 565-586, July.
    2. Mohsen Mohammadi Khyareh & Marjan Zamani, 2022. "Economic Freedom, Entrepreneurship And Economic Growth: Evidence From Panel Data," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 27(04), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Natanya Meyer & Jacques de Jongh, 2018. "The Importance of Entrepreneurship as a Contributing Factor to Economic Growth and Development: The Case of Selected European Countries," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(4), pages 287-299.
    4. Zoltán J. Ács & Pontus Braunerhjelm & David B. Audretsch & Bo Carlsson, 2015. "The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship," Chapters, in: Global Entrepreneurship, Institutions and Incentives, chapter 7, pages 129-144, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Michael Gusenbauer, 2019. "Google Scholar to overshadow them all? Comparing the sizes of 12 academic search engines and bibliographic databases," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 118(1), pages 177-214, January.
    6. Alberto Martín-Martín & Mike Thelwall & Enrique Orduna-Malea & Emilio Delgado López-Cózar, 2021. "Correction to: Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic, Scopus, Dimensions, Web of Science, and OpenCitations’ COCI: a multidisciplinary comparison of coverage via citations," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(1), pages 907-908, January.
    7. Danielle Nel-Sanders, 2023. "Revolutionising Public Private Partnerships: A Transition to the Fifth Industrial Revolution," International Journal of Innovation in Management, Economics and Social Sciences, International Scientific Network (ISNet), vol. 3(1), pages 12-29.
    8. John Mugambwa Serumaga-Zake & John Andrew van der Poll, 2021. "Addressing the Impact of Fourth Industrial Revolution on South African Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-31, October.
    9. Erik Stam & Andrew Ven, 2021. "Entrepreneurial ecosystem elements," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 809-832, February.
    10. Min Xu & Jeanne M. David & Suk Hi Kim, 2018. "The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Opportunities and Challenges," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 9(2), pages 90-95, April.
    11. David B. Audretsch, 1995. "Innovation and Industry Evolution," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262011468, December.
    12. Ethné M. Swartz & Frances M. Amatucci & Jonathan T. Marks, 2019. "Contextual Embeddedness As A Framework: The Case Of Entrepreneurship In South Africa," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 24(03), pages 1-24, September.
    13. Alberto Martín-Martín & Mike Thelwall & Enrique Orduna-Malea & Emilio Delgado López-Cózar, 2021. "Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic, Scopus, Dimensions, Web of Science, and OpenCitations’ COCI: a multidisciplinary comparison of coverage via citations," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(1), pages 871-906, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Michael Gusenbauer, 2022. "Search where you will find most: Comparing the disciplinary coverage of 56 bibliographic databases," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(5), pages 2683-2745, May.
    2. Ruben Tessmann & Ralf Elbert, 2022. "Multi-sided platforms in competitive B2B networks with varying governmental influence – a taxonomy of Port and Cargo Community System business models," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(2), pages 829-872, June.
    3. Raminta Pranckutė, 2021. "Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus: The Titans of Bibliographic Information in Today’s Academic World," Publications, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-59, March.
    4. Sang-Min Park & Nicholas S. Vonortas, 2023. "Translational research: from basic research to regional biomedical entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1761-1783, April.
    5. Casey Eaton & Amanda Banks & Kristin Weger & Bryan Mesmer & Robert Moreland, 2023. "Understanding perceived influencers on project outcomes and quantifying disciplinary similarities in academic literature," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(3), pages 460-487, May.
    6. Konon, Alexander & Fritsch, Michael & Kritikos, Alexander S., 2018. "Business cycles and start-ups across industries: An empirical analysis of German regions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 742-761.
    7. Saul Estrin & Julia Korosteleva & Tomasz Mickiewicz, 2022. "Schumpeterian Entry: Innovation, Exporting, and Growth Aspirations of Entrepreneurs," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(2), pages 269-296, March.
    8. Ramón A. Feenstra & Emilio Delgado López-Cózar, 2022. "Philosophers’ appraisals of bibliometric indicators and their use in evaluation: from recognition to knee-jerk rejection," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(4), pages 2085-2103, April.
    9. Andrew Burke & Serhiy Lyalkov & Ana Millán & José María Millán & André Stel, 2021. "How do country R&D change the allocation of self-employment across different types?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 695-721, February.
    10. Chengguang Li & Rodrigo Isidor & Luis Alfonso Dau & Rudy Kabst, 2018. "The More the Merrier? Immigrant Share and Entrepreneurial Activities," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 42(5), pages 698-733, September.
    11. Muhammad Naveed Iftikhar & Maha Ahmad & David B. Audretsch, 0. "The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship: the developing country context," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-20.
    12. Kingsley E. Haynes & Haifeng Qian & Sidney C. Turner, 2012. "The location of business support programs: does the knowledge context matter?," Chapters, in: Charlie Karlsson & Börje Johansson & Roger R. Stough (ed.), Entrepreneurship, Social Capital and Governance, chapter 13, pages 302-324, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    13. Weishu Liu & Meiting Huang & Haifeng Wang, 2021. "Same journal but different numbers of published records indexed in Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection: causes, consequences, and solutions," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(5), pages 4541-4550, May.
    14. Rui Liang & Xichuan Zheng & Po-Hsun Wang & Jia Liang & Linhui Hu, 2023. "Research Progress of Carbon-Neutral Design for Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-50, August.
    15. Mehdi Toloo & Rouhollah Khodabandelou & Amar Oukil, 2022. "A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of Fractional Programming (1965–2020)," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-21, May.
    16. Florencia Garcia-Vicente & Daniel Garcia-Swartz & Martin Campbell-Kelly, 2017. "Information technology clusters and regional growth in America, 1970–1980," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 1021-1046, April.
    17. Zoltán J. Ács & Pontus Braunerhjelm & David B. Audretsch & Bo Carlsson, 2015. "The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship," Chapters, in: Global Entrepreneurship, Institutions and Incentives, chapter 7, pages 129-144, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    18. Guillermo Andrés ZAPATA HUAMANÍ & Sara FERNÁNDEZ LÓPEZ & Isabel NEIRA GÓMEZ & Lucía REY ARES, 2017. "THE ROLE OF THE ENTREPRENEUR IN NEW TECHNOLOGY-BASED FIRMS (NTBFs): AN ANALYSIS ACCORDING TO CONTEXT DEVELOPMENT," Regional and Sectoral Economic Studies, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 17(2), pages 25-42.
    19. Mike Thelwall, 2021. "Alternative medicines worth researching? Citation analyses of acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, and osteopathy 1996–2017," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(10), pages 8731-8747, October.
    20. João J. M. Ferreira & Cristina I. Fernandes & Sascha Kraus, 2019. "Entrepreneurship research: mapping intellectual structures and research trends," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 181-205, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:13:y:2023:i:9:p:195-:d:1225896. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.