Towards a “Smart Society” Through a Connected and Smart Citizenry in South Africa: A Review of the National Broadband Strategy and Policy

Abstract

Part 4: Smart InnovationsInternational audienceBroadband has been recognised as an enabling technology in connecting government and citizens in transitioning towards a smart society. However, governments, especially in developing countries, continue to face challenges in their bid to connect citizens. This study provides an understanding of how institutional pressures have influenced policy implementation to advance the “smart agenda” in a developing country context, using South Africa as an exemplary case study. The study is an interpretive qualitative case study, using documentary evidence as data. Institutional theory is used as a lens for interrogating the issues confronting government in implementing “smart” initiatives. We conclude that policy alone is not sufficient if not supported by a strong implementation plan and other supporting institutional mechanisms such as leadership to coordinate, and direct resources and activities in the institution

Responding to the challenges and opportunities in the 4th Industrial revolution in developing countries

“…Skills, innovation systems, and knowledge communities provide the much needed intellectual guidance in the development and implementation of smart and digital initiatives (Abdoullaev, 2011;Scholl & Scholl, 2014). E-readiness (e-skills and e-literacy) have also been identified as fundamental in the success of the so-called smart society (Manda & Backhouse, 2016b). Skills challenges identified include skills mismatches and skills redundancy due to the changing nature of jobs as a result of advances in technology and manufacturing techniques (World Economic Forum, 2016).…”

“…Skills challenges identified include skills mismatches and skills redundancy due to the changing nature of jobs as a result of advances in technology and manufacturing techniques (World Economic Forum, 2016). Moreover, the e-readiness (e-literacy and e-skills) influence the citizens' ability to fully participate in social and economic activities in the smart society (Manda & Backhouse, 2016b). Low e-readiness levels in developing countries like South Africa have been cited as a hindrance in the transformation towards smart societies (Ngulube, 2007; Manda & Backhouse, 2016b).…”

Digital India’s Smart Transform-Nation: Enabling or Discouraging a ‘Chatur Citizenry’?

“…The idiom of crisis and renewal in urban planning (Ponzini 2016) is utilized by World Bank (2012), UN-Habitat, consultancies and corporations, in order to promote SC as the sole convenient path anywhere: "where they do not exist, they should be created" (Slavova and Okwechime 2016, 15). Emerging in the 90s in California, yet quickly proliferating across the US, EU and UK; the paradigm now reaches promotion climax across the Global-South (Bouskela et al 2016;Manda and Backhouse 2016;Kumar 2017). Who would have expected, i.e.…”

Industrial Revolution 4.0

“…e-Wallets, FinTech). E-readiness among society means that they embrace any new technological advancements which thus creates a new society called "smart society" (Manda & Backhouse, 2016). Smart society is also known as "digital citizen", which in general means society that are able to use technology competently and ethically (Spires et al, 2018).…”

“…Transformation towards smart society essentially needs e-readiness, digital literacy and network readiness (i.e. good internet infrastructure) within the members of society to be able to fully participate in the social and economic activities within the smart society (Manda & Backhouse, 2016).…”