A deeper look at the advent of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and what it means for the marginalized, a social innovation perspective.
Abstract
The current technological paradigm shift known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), has impacted all parts of the world including the African continent. Developing countries such as South Africa are preparing for the transformative technological changes brought by 4IR. According to Schwab and other scholars 4IR is the fourth major industrial era since the 18th century in which new technologies are fused together with the physical, digital, and biological worlds affecting all disciplines, economies, and industries. South Africa recognizes the potential of adopting 4IR technologies to address issues of poverty, unemployment, and inequality. However, currently South Africa lacks the necessary resources, skills, and infrastructure to fully utilize the opportunities and mitigate the risks associated with these technologies, particularly in the marginalized society. This study seeks to determine the effect of the 4IR on the marginalized society and explore possible roles that can be played by social innovation (SI) to mitigate possible challenges and ensure inclusive participation in the implementation of the current technological revolution. SI is defined as new ideas such as products, services, and models that equally meet social needs and create new social relationships or collaborations that aim to develop society. In the context of this study, marginalized society refers to the demotion of society due to a lack of access to rights, resources, and opportunities.