Home / Non-Accredited / Project Management, Agile & Process Improvement / Prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in South Africa (2 days)
Quick Look Course Summary:Prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in South Africa (2 days)
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Length: 2 day(s)
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Price (at your venue): 1 Person R 10,326 EX VAT 3 Person R 7,594 EX VAT 10 Person R 5,491 EX VAT
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Certification Type:Non-Accredited
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Locations & Venues: Off-site or in-house. We train in all major city centres throughout South Africa.
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Prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in South Africa (2 days)
Leave with a clear view of what the 4IR means for your organisation, your people and your sector – and a practical plan for the first steps.
Artificial intelligence, automation, connected devices and data are changing how South African organisations compete, hire and serve customers. Most executives know this; fewer have a clear view of what it means for their own business and people over the next few years. This two-day fourth industrial revolution course gives managers and executives that view, and a practical starting plan.
Day one explains the 4IR: how it follows the earlier industrial revolutions, the physical, digital and biological megatrends driving it – from artificial intelligence and robotics to the Industrial Internet of Things, 5G and 3D printing – and its impact on the economy, work, business models, government and security. Day two turns to people, society and South Africa: inequality and the squeezed middle class, unemployment and the skills gap, infrastructure realities such as power supply and data costs, data protection under POPIA, and what the changes mean for individuals and organisations.
The course is discussion-based and non-technical. It closes with a facilitated session in which delegates assess their organisation's readiness, brainstorm a way forward and draft an action plan. Delegates receive Klaus Schwab's book The Fourth Industrial Revolution, supplemented by BOTI notes that add a South African perspective.
Why this course
For your organisation
- Leaders who share a clear, realistic picture of the 4IR
- A readiness view of your organisation across people, data, processes and technology
- Priorities for skills, automation and data investment grounded in the South African context
- A draft action plan to take back to the executive team
For your delegates
- Plain-language understanding of the technologies behind the 4IR
- A grasp of the risks as well as the opportunities
- Confidence to lead 4IR conversations with boards, staff and partners
- A copy of The Fourth Industrial Revolution with South African notes
What delegates will be able to do
- Explain what the Fourth Industrial Revolution is and how it differs from the three before it
- Describe the main 4IR technologies and the megatrends behind them
- Assess the likely impact of the 4IR on the economy, jobs, business models and government
- Discuss how the 4IR affects inequality, society and the individual
- Relate the 4IR to South African conditions, including skills, infrastructure and data protection
- Assess your organisation's readiness for the 4IR
- Draft a practical action plan for your team or organisation
Who should attend
Managers and executives who need to get up to speed with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and lead their organisation's response, including business owners, strategy, HR and IT leaders, and public-sector managers. No technical background is needed.
Course outline
Day 1 – Understanding the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Introduction to the Fourth Industrial Revolution
- What the terms 4IR and Industry 4.0 mean
- From steam to electricity to computers: the three earlier revolutions
- Why this revolution is different: speed, breadth and impact on whole systems
- The point of no return
The megatrends driving the 4IR
- Physical: autonomous vehicles, advanced robotics, 3D printing and new materials
- Digital: the Internet of Things, the Industrial Internet of Things, platforms and blockchain
- Artificial intelligence and generative AI
- 5G and connectivity
- Biological: genetics and biotechnology
Impact on the economy and work
- Growth and productivity
- Automation and the changing type of work
- Platform and gig work
- Which jobs are likely to change, shrink or grow
Impact on business
- Rising customer expectations
- Data-driven products and services
- Collaboration, partnerships and new ways of doing things
- New competitors and changing business models
Impact on government, cities and security
- Governments, regulation and the pace of change
- Countries, regions and smart cities
- Cyber security and international security
Day 2 – South Africa, your people and the way forward
How the 4IR shapes society and the individual
- Inequality and the pressure on the middle class
- Identity, ethics and privacy
- Well-being and the human side of technology
The South African picture
- Unemployment and the skills gap
- South Africa's policy response, including the Presidential Commission on the 4IR
- Infrastructure realities: power supply, connectivity and data costs
- Opportunities in mining, agriculture, financial services and public services
People and skills for the 4IR
- The skills that grow in value as work is automated
- Reskilling and lifelong learning
- Leading people through technology change
Assessing your organisation's readiness
- Strategy, data, processes, technology and culture
- Personal information and POPIA when using data and AI
- Cyber risk
- Where universities, companies and organisations are on the curve
Brainstorming a way forward
- Facilitated session: opportunities and threats for your organisation
- Choosing priorities and quick wins
- Drafting a 90-day action plan
- Course review and close
How it is delivered
Two days, 08:30-16:00. In person at your offices anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online. One delegate or a group of up to 20; examples tailored to your sector on request. Each delegate receives Klaus Schwab's The Fourth Industrial Revolution, BOTI notes with a South African perspective and an action-plan template. We deliver it at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and anywhere else in South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online for teams in different places.
What our clients say
“The facilitator was excellent and took time to ensure that the employee understood the content and was able to apply the learning in order to develop the portfolio of evidence.”
“The training was well received and we were impressed by the knowledge of the facilitators and the quality of overall training.”
“The training went well, and judging by the feedback from the evaluation forms we received, we were impressed by the knowledge of the facilitator and the quality of training overall.”
Frequently asked questions
Is the course technical?
No. It is designed for managers and executives, and explains the technologies in plain language, focusing on what they mean for strategy, people and decisions.
Can you run it at our offices, and for how many people?
Yes. We train at your premises anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue or live online, for one delegate or a group of up to 20. An executive team trained together can use the second day as a working strategy session.
Is it accredited?
No – it is a non-accredited short course and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Can it be tailored to our sector?
Yes. Tell us your industry and current priorities, and the facilitator builds sector examples into both days and the readiness assessment.
Does the course cover artificial intelligence?
Yes, as one of the main 4IR technologies, with a focus on its impact on work and business. For hands-on use of AI tools, ask us about BOTI's one-day AI masterclasses.
Can you run this course in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban?
Yes. We train on site at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and across South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online so a team spread over several offices can attend together.
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