The perceived societal impact of the fourth industrial revolution in South Africa

Abstract

Societal impact reflects the changes that transform the society which affect the well-being of individuals and their families. This study aimed to understand the perceived societal impact of the fourth industrial revolution in South Africa. The investigation used an exploratory mixed research method, with six experts in round table discussion (focus group) and a survey questionnaire with 1,1105 responses. The findings of the study confirm the existential relational proposition that the fourth industrial revolution has a societal impact in South Africa. It is influenced by socio-demographic (province, age) and socio-economic (education and employment) factors. The findings also revealed that the perceived highest impact of fourth industrial revolution’s will be on improved re-industrialisation (RII = 68.6 percent), increase in work mobility (RII = 68.1 percent) and improved service delivery (65.1 percent). Regarding benefits, if correctly leveraged, these new disruptive technologies create a significant opportunity to leapfrog the advancements made in the previous industrial revolutions and help develop society. However, this might widen socio-economic gaps further, especially if there is no action to change the status quo of the highly unequal society in South Africa.

Keywords: {'name': 'Societal impact'}, {'name': 'fourth industrial revolution'}, {'name': 'relative importance index'}, {'name': 'South Africa'}

Authors & affiliations

Matolwandile Mtotywa
Affiliation not supplied

Smilo P Manqele
Affiliation not supplied

Thulani J Manqele
Affiliation not supplied

Mankodi Moitse
Affiliation not supplied

Modjadji A. Seabi
Affiliation not supplied

Nontando Mthethwa
Affiliation not supplied

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

DOI: 10.1016/j.procir.2016.07.067

DOI: 10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_504_19

DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2019.1663691

DOI: 10.3917/ried.243.0233

Avan, B.A., & White, F.M. (2001). The proposition: An insight into research. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 51(1), 49-53.

DOI: 10.1080/02589346.2019.1687128

DOI: 10.1080/02589346.2019.1687128

Bloom, R.L, Crapster, B.L., Dunkelberger, H., Glatfelter, D., Mara, R., Richardson, N., & Schubart, W. (1958). Some social effects of the industrial revolution. Pt XIV: The industrial revolution, classical economics, and economic liberalism. Ideas and Institutions of Western Man (Gettysburg College, 1958), 15-16. http://cupola.gettysburg.edu/ contemporary_sec14/5

DOI: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2017.08.1121

DOI: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Cann, O. (2016). Five million jobs by 2020: The real challenge of the fourth industrial revolution. World Economic Forum. Accessed at http://www.weforum.org/

DOI: 10.1016/j.promfg.2018.02.170

Centers for Disease Control (2022). Risk for COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death By Age Group. Accessed at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/investigations-discovery/hospitalization-death-by-age.html

DOI: 10.1080/13600818.2022.2033191

Cohen, J.F., Coleman, E., & Abrahams, L. (2015). Use and impacts of e-health within community health facilities in developing countries: A systematic literature review. ECIS Proceedings. https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2015_ cr/33/

Cremer Media’s Engineering News (2018). ELB pulls South Africa into fourth industrial revolution with IoT.nxt. Accessed at http://www.miningweekly.com/article/elb-2018-03-13

Creswell, J.W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2013.10.020

DOI: 10.2307/4129079

DOI: 10.3917/cep.071.0181

DOI: 10.4337/9781781001028.00015

Evans, J.R. (2016). Quality and performance excellence: Management, organisation and strategy, 8th ed. Boston: Cengage Learning.

DOI: 10.1590/2176-9451.19.4.027-029.ebo

Fisher, B.S., & Schnittger, S. (2012). Autonomous and remote operation technologies in the mining industry. BAE Research Report, 12.1. BAEconomics: Kingston.

DOI: 10.1108/eb045307

DOI: 10.1016/j.procs.2021.01.260

Galvin, P. (2003). The industrial revolution and its educational impacts. Accessed at https://essaydocs.org/the-industrial-revolution-and-its-educational-impacts-patrick.html

George, D., & Mallery, P. (2003). SPSS for windows step by step: A simple study guide and reference, 11.0 update. Boston, USA: Allyn & Bacon.

DOI: 10.1017/9781108264846.009

DOI: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.10.492

Guetterman, T. C. (2015). Descriptions of sampling practices within five approaches to qualitative research in education and the health sciences. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 6(2), 1-23.

Gutierrez, A. (2017). Fourth industrial revolution & its dramatic impact on society. Inter Press Service News Agency. Accessed at http://www.ipsnews.net/2017/11/fourth-industrial-revolution-dramatic-impact-society/

DOI: 10.1007/s10798-020-09600-2

DOI: 10.2307/3101719

Hotz, R. L. (2017). Drones deliver medical supplies to remote areas in Rwanda – WSJ. Accessed at https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-rwanda-drones-deliver-medical-supplies-to-remote-areas-1512124200

International Monetary Fund (IMF). (2017). Economic surveillance. Accessed at https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/ar/2017/eng/economic-surveillance.htm

DOI: 10.1108/JWL-07-2020-0127

DOI: 10.3386/w24253

DOI: 10.29139/aijss.20170101

DOI: 10.3390/sci4030026

DOI: 10.1177/09717218221078540

DOI: 10.1590/0103-6351/6191

Kuruczleki, E., Pelle, A., Laczi, R., & Fekete. B. (2016). The readiness of the European Union to embrace the fourth industrial revolution. Management, 11(4), 327–347.

Leedy, P.D., & Ormrod, J.E. (2019). Practical Research: Planning and Design, 12th ed. Colorado: Pearson.

Leibetseder, B. (2011). A critical review on the concept of social technology. Social Technologies, 1(1), 7-24.

DOI: 10.1590/0103-6513.20180061

Lye, D. (2017). The fourth industrial revolution and challenges for the government. General Electric. Accessed at https://www.brinknews.com/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-and-challenges- for-government/

DOI: 10.26858/est.v5i3.8662

Matebesi, S., & Botes, L. (2017). Party identification and service delivery protests in the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, South Africa. African Sociological Review / Revue Africaine de Sociologie, 21(2), 81–99.

Matebesi, S.Z., & Botes, L. (2011). Khutsong cross-boundary protests: the triumph and failure of participatory local governance? Politeia, 30(1), 4–21.

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-3302-7_1

DOI: 10.46692/9781447339953.003

DOI: 10.1332/policypress/9781447339946.003.0002

DOI: 10.1177/2631684618821566

Mohajan, H.K. (2020). The second industrial revolution has brought modern social and economic developments. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 6(1), 1-14.

Mohajan, H.K. (2021). Third industrial revolution brings global development. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 7(4), 239-251.

DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2018.286

DOI: 10.22215/timreview/1117

DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2017.1329106

Mtotywa, M.M. (2019). Conversations with novice researchers. East London: AndsM.

DOI: 10.1080/20421338.2021.1961358

DOI: 10.1177/2631684618821566

National Planning Commission. (2011). National Development Plan. Pretoria: Government Printer. ISBN978-0621. RP270/2011.

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2998964

DOI: 10.4102/td.v15i1.643

DOI: 10.1016/j.resglo.2020.100024

DOI: 10.1186/s12939-020-01361-7

Prisecaru, P. (2016). Challenges of the fourth industrial revolution. Knowledge Horizons – Economics, 8(1), 57–62.

Roberts, B.H. (2015). The third industrial revolution: Implications for planning cities and regions. Urban Frontiers Working Paper 1. Accessed at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278671121_The_Third_Industrial_Revolution_Implications_for_Planning_Cities_and_Regions

DOI: 10.1080/17508975.2021.1873625

South African Social Security Agency (2022). Accessed at https://www.sassa.gov.za/newsroom/Documents/COVID-19%20SRD%20APPLICATIONS%20MEDIA%20STATEMENT.pdf

Schwab, C. (2015). Market outlook report 2015. Compliance number 1214-8150. Accessed at https://content.schwab.com/web/retail/public/about-schwab/charles-schwab -market-outlook-report-2015.pdf

Schwab, K. (2016). The fourth industrial revolution. Davos: World Economic Forum. Accessed at https://www.weforum.org/about/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-by-klaus-schwab

Scranton, P. (1994). Determinism and indeterminacy in the history of technology. In M. R. Smith & L. Marx (Eds.), Does technology drive history? The dilemma of technological determinism (pp. 143–168). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

Shava, E., & Hofisi, C. (2017). Challenges and opportunities for public administration in the fourth industrial revolution. African Journal of Public Affairs, 9(9), 203-215.

DOI: 10.3233/EFI-2004-22201

South Africa National Treasury. (2021). 2021 Estimates of National Expenditure: Social Development – Vote 19. Pretoria: South Africa National Treasury.

Statista. (2020). Accessed at https://www.statista.com/statistics/455931/urbanization-in-south-africa/

Statistics South Africa. (2021a). Mid-year population estimates. Pretoria: Statistics South Africa. Accessed at https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0302/P03022021.pdf

Statistics South Africa. (2021b). Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) Q3:2021. Pretoria: Statistics South Africa. Accessed at https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=14957

Statistics South Africa. (2022). Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) Q1:2022. Pretoria: Statistics South Africa. Accessed at https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=15407#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Quarterly%20Labour,stands%20at%2034%2C5%25.

DOI: 10.1007/s11165-016-9602-2

DOI: 10.1007/s11186-019-09345-5

Tendaupenyu, P.A. (2018). An investigation into the application of mechanised technology to South Africa's bushveld U.G. 2 tabular ore body. Wits University: South Africa.

Treanor, J. (2016). Fourth industrial revolution set to benefit richest. Accessed at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/19/fourth-industrialrevolution-set-to-benefit-richest-ubs-report-says.

DOI: 10.17159/2309-8775/2015/v57n1a1

Winner, L. (1977). Autonomous technology: Technics-out-of-control as a theme in political thought. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. ISBN 0-262·23078-X (hardcover), ISBN 0-262-73049-9 (paperback)

Wolf, M. (2015). Same as it ever was: Why the techno-optimists are wrong. In The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Foreign Affairs, 94(4).

World Economic Forum. (2017a). Realizing human potential in the fourth industrial revolution: An agenda for leaders to shape the future of education, gender and work. Whitepaper Ref: 040117. Geneva, Switzerland. Accessed at https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_EGW_Whitepaper.pdf

World Economic Forum (2017b). The future of jobs and skills in Africa: Preparing the region for the fourth industrial revolution. Ref: 020517. Geneva, Switzerland. Accessed at https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_EGW_FOJ_Africa.pdf

DOI: 10.5430/ijfr.v9n2p90

DOI: 10.4236/ajibm.2016.62006