THE USE OF FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION DRIVERS TO ENHANCE EMPLOYEE’S PERFORMANCE IN SOUTH AFRICAN MUNICIPALITIES

Abstract

The crucial drivers of change in most industries are the causes of change in the nature of jobs and they bring different effects to both the public and private sector. These drivers of change have created various models of change that have positive and negative consequences for skills needed by the government and labour markets. This study aims to assess the use of Fourth Industrial Revolution drivers to improve employee performance. The study used a qualitative research approach; data was collected from nine participants through semi-structured interviews. Participants were approached through a purposive sampling technique. The collected data was analysed using thematic approach. The results revealed that robotics, automation, and AI applications in the workplace may increase employee and employer safety. 4IR, when implemented as an assistant to the employees, not as a replacement, can significantly improve workers’ living standards and raise income levels, especially for those who are technology experts. Clients have reaped the greatest benefits of 4IR thus far, not workers, as they now have unrestricted access to the digital world. Drivers of 4IR increase productivity across entire department of municipality, allowing workers to be more effective in their work by deploying robots, AI, IoT, and automation as assistants and tools. The study recommends that 4IR drivers must be implemented only if adopted as assistance to the employees, not as replacements, thereby reassuring the audience about the future of work.