Abstract
Universities are placed in a disadvantaged position as it pertains to the holistic adoption of 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies and their subsequent deployment toward improving circular economy (CE) performance. Accordingly, literature relating to the contribution of 4IR technologies in driving effective CE implementation in higher education institution (HEI) contexts remain limited. In this study, the need for a dynamic capabilities' framework for managing the deployment of 4IR technologies toward enabling CE implementation within the context of a South African University of Technology (SAUoT), is articulated. A single case study research design was adopted for the study with SAUoT serving as the case. Qualitative data was elicited through a brainstorming session with 18 discussants from SAUoT. Thematic analysis was utilized in analyzing the data. Findings highlight the opportunities and challenges associated with the deployment of 4IR technologies in driving CE implementation within SAUoT. Also, it provided the reasons behind the inability of extant management frameworks to facilitate successful deployment of 4IR technologies for improved CE implementation in HEIs. These findings culminated in the proposal for the adoption of a dynamic capabilities-driven framework for improved strategic management in such contexts. The proposed framework presents a platform for facilitating the effective adoption and implementation of 4IR technologies for improving CE implementation performance. This study holds salient implications for the policy makers, academic leaders, and innovation managers in university ecosystems in developing country contexts.
Highlights
The quest to embed sustainability and sustainable development ethos into society’s fabric continues to gain momentum (Ayre and Callway, 2013; Barbier and Burgess, 2017; Olawumi and Chan, 2018)
History of human civilizations make it abundantly clear that societies progress by embracing advances in knowledge and innovations
Universities are playing an important role in facilitating the transformation of respective societies and communities
Summary
The quest to embed sustainability and sustainable development ethos into society’s fabric continues to gain momentum (Ayre and Callway, 2013; Barbier and Burgess, 2017; Olawumi and Chan, 2018). Within the South African HEI landscape, Xing et al (2018) reiterate the need for training and employment systems to be retooled to cater for the anticipated changes in the workplace, buttressing the need for universities in the country to play a critical role in enabling this They identify the adoption of new technological developments as an important vista for doing this as it will contribute to producing graduates who fare differently from those of the previous years in skills and competence. The question remains: how can these capabilities be managed or aligned strategically to enhance the institution’s ability to sense, seize and transform based on the opportunities available in the emerging 4IR + CE era? This is what this study contributes toward answering
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