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Fourth industrial revolution and social innovation dynamics in South Africa: a review

Author

Listed:
  • Maxwell Haurovi

    (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)

  • Alouis Chilunjika

    (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)

Abstract

Social innovation is one of the key drivers of the sustainable development agenda of the Republic of South Africa in the wake of the new global focus on sustainable development. Furthermore, it is within the agenda of sustainable development that community development, poverty alleviation and eradication and the improvement of the living standards of all South Africans can be realised in the current era of connectivity, advanced analytics, automation, and advanced-manufacturing technology that has been transforming global business for years. Through the extensive review of purposively selected written documents such as journal articles, books, book chapters and newspapers, the paper discusses the role that social innovation plays in pursuing and attaining sustainable development in and by South Africa within the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Succinctly, the focus of this manuscript is to analyse the role that social innovation in a 4IR context can be the conduit for improving how the government intensifies social and community development. The article indicated that lack of critical skills, scarcity of resources, poor accountability, poor organisational culture, lack of integrity, and low equity and inclusion, among others, were identified as the challenges to social innovation in South Africa. To this effect, the paper showed that the Fourth Industrial Revolution in South Africa can be used to drive social innovation and address urgent socioeconomic issues. It can also promote inclusive growth and build a more sustainable and equitable future for all South Africans.

Suggested Citation

  • Maxwell Haurovi & Alouis Chilunjika, 2024. "Fourth industrial revolution and social innovation dynamics in South Africa: a review," Insights into Regional Development, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 6(2), pages 103-116, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ssi:jouird:v:6:y:2024:i:2:p:103-116
    DOI: 10.9770/ird.2024.6.2(7)
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alouis Chilunjika & Dominique Uwizeyimana & Sharon Chilunjika, 2023. "The nexus between leadership and the performance of the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) in Zimbabwe," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(2), pages 320-329, March.
    2. Charlotte van Ooijen & Barbara Ubaldi & Benjamin Welby, 2019. "A data-driven public sector: Enabling the strategic use of data for productive, inclusive and trustworthy governance," OECD Working Papers on Public Governance 33, OECD Publishing.
    3. Signé,Landry, 2023. "Africa's Fourth Industrial Revolution," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781009200011, Enero-Abr.
    4. Maxwell Haurovi & Maxwell Haurovi & Alouis Chilunjika, 2023. "Assessing the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the South African police service," Insights into Regional Development, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 5(4), pages 36-48, December.
    5. Daniel N. Mlambo & Mandla A. Mubecua & Victor H. Mlambo, 2023. "Post-colonial Independence and Africa’s Corruption Conundrum: A Succinct South African Critique Post-democratisation," Insight on Africa, , vol. 15(2), pages 184-202, July.
    6. Signé,Landry, 2023. "Africa's Fourth Industrial Revolution," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781009200042, Enero-Abr.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alouis Chilunjika, 2024. "Navigating the challenges and opportunities for adopting the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in South African (SA) Municipalities," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 6(5), pages 184-194, October.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation

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