The preparedness of the insurance industry for industry 4.0 in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) towards 2030
- Authors: Haribans, Sarika
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Insurance companies -- South Africa Industrial revolution -- Insurance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48147 , vital:40511
- Description: The exponential growth of technology over the past few years has given rise to the term Industry 4.0. The term Industry 4.0 has since gained increasing relevance and importance. Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF) emphasised that the world is on the verge of a technological revolution that will profoundly alter the way we live, work and relate to one another; and that the scale, scope and complexity of the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before (Schwab, 2016). Industry 4.0 is said to be unlike the previous three industrial revolutions, it is a distinct one of speed, extent and systems impact, characterised by a major disruption to all sectors of business, governments and individuals globally. Industry’s such as insurance, is considered conservative and slow to change, as such the industry has never been quick to adapt to technological advancements. One thing however, that is certain about Industry 4.0 and predicted by many, is its significant impact on jobs in the world as robotics; automation and artificial intelligence become more abundant. This phenomenon has a direct impact on South Africa, which is currently strained by challenges such as infrastructure constraints, political instability, high levels of unemployment, rising costs, and shortages of skills, the loss of further jobs should raise an alarm of concern for government and the private sector alike. The outcomes of the extensive analysis of future studies practice and theory in this research study gives credibility to the argument that the manner in which planning is taking place for the future of the Industry 4.0 in the South African insurance industry context, requires significant adjustments. Business is encouraged to make collaborative decisions and fashion strategies that are founded on and informed by futures studies as this involves the development of fresh insight, fundamental to the planning process. This research attempted to gain insight into the possible future of the South African insurance industry through the creation of four scenarios towards 2030. These are outlined as follows: Insurance innovators and expansionists, which is the ‘best case’ scenario, to which the country aspires; The divide, the ‘worst case’ scenario, in which everything takes a negative turn; The uninsurable, the outlier future based on a surprise future centred on a disruptive emerging area; and Sitting this one out, in which no change takes place, making it ‘business as usual’. The research further undertook to discover the preferred future for the insurance industry in the South African context, as a basis for the Future Vision of the insurance industry of South Africa towards 2030. Inayatullah’s (2008) six pillars of futures studies was employed as an instrument to to guide the mapping of the present and future, further deepening and broadening the future through the development of scenarios, and, finally, transforming the future by narrowing it down to the preferred. In order to achieve the preferred, Future Vision of the insurance industry of South Africa towards 2030 is up to the insurance industry of South Africa, in collaboration with public and private sectors to determine the path to be followed in the decisions surrounding the embrace, acceptance and implementation of Industry 4.0 for the greater good of all, as the country moves towards progression, financial inclusion and sustainable development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Haribans, Sarika
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Insurance companies -- South Africa Industrial revolution -- Insurance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48147 , vital:40511
- Description: The exponential growth of technology over the past few years has given rise to the term Industry 4.0. The term Industry 4.0 has since gained increasing relevance and importance. Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF) emphasised that the world is on the verge of a technological revolution that will profoundly alter the way we live, work and relate to one another; and that the scale, scope and complexity of the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before (Schwab, 2016). Industry 4.0 is said to be unlike the previous three industrial revolutions, it is a distinct one of speed, extent and systems impact, characterised by a major disruption to all sectors of business, governments and individuals globally. Industry’s such as insurance, is considered conservative and slow to change, as such the industry has never been quick to adapt to technological advancements. One thing however, that is certain about Industry 4.0 and predicted by many, is its significant impact on jobs in the world as robotics; automation and artificial intelligence become more abundant. This phenomenon has a direct impact on South Africa, which is currently strained by challenges such as infrastructure constraints, political instability, high levels of unemployment, rising costs, and shortages of skills, the loss of further jobs should raise an alarm of concern for government and the private sector alike. The outcomes of the extensive analysis of future studies practice and theory in this research study gives credibility to the argument that the manner in which planning is taking place for the future of the Industry 4.0 in the South African insurance industry context, requires significant adjustments. Business is encouraged to make collaborative decisions and fashion strategies that are founded on and informed by futures studies as this involves the development of fresh insight, fundamental to the planning process. This research attempted to gain insight into the possible future of the South African insurance industry through the creation of four scenarios towards 2030. These are outlined as follows: Insurance innovators and expansionists, which is the ‘best case’ scenario, to which the country aspires; The divide, the ‘worst case’ scenario, in which everything takes a negative turn; The uninsurable, the outlier future based on a surprise future centred on a disruptive emerging area; and Sitting this one out, in which no change takes place, making it ‘business as usual’. The research further undertook to discover the preferred future for the insurance industry in the South African context, as a basis for the Future Vision of the insurance industry of South Africa towards 2030. Inayatullah’s (2008) six pillars of futures studies was employed as an instrument to to guide the mapping of the present and future, further deepening and broadening the future through the development of scenarios, and, finally, transforming the future by narrowing it down to the preferred. In order to achieve the preferred, Future Vision of the insurance industry of South Africa towards 2030 is up to the insurance industry of South Africa, in collaboration with public and private sectors to determine the path to be followed in the decisions surrounding the embrace, acceptance and implementation of Industry 4.0 for the greater good of all, as the country moves towards progression, financial inclusion and sustainable development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A psychobiographical study of Steven Paul Jobs
- Authors: Moore, Noelle
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Jobs, Steve, 1955-2011 , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Computer engineers -- United States -- Biography
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9978 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021112
- Description: The study consists of a psychobiography of the American entrepreneur and innovative co-founder of Apple Computers, Steven Paul Jobs (1955 – 2011). The psychobiographical research method qualitatively considers the lived life of an individual in an attempt to understand the psychological development in the context of applied psychological theory. A theoretical integration of Adler‘s Individual Psychology and Antonovsky‘s Sense of Coherence was utilized in the present study. This integrative approach facilitated a dynamic and holistic picture of the individual‘s functioning in illuminating not only personality but also the individual‘s social context, choice making capacity, general resistance resources and the individual‘s ‗meaning making‘ capacity in the strive towards health and superiority. Steven Paul Jobs revolutionised personal computing. Ranked as Forbes‘ seventeenth most powerful person and Man of the Year by The Financial Times in 2010, Jobs‘ contribution to modern technology is widely acknowledged and revered. To ensure the accurate description of the lived life of Steven Paul Jobs, extensive data was examined by utilizing Alexander‘s model of identifying salient themes. The study considered the nature and methodology of psychobiography, the theories of Alfred Adler and Aaron Antonovsky and the life of Steven Paul Jobs that resulted in an integrated psychological description of the subject. The findings of this study indicate that Steven Paul Jobs‘ unique context (environment and constitutional attributes) was valuable in light of the theoretical frameworks that the present study is grounded upon as it illustrated an individual‘s self-determination and capacity to exercise choice in response to life challenges. The study highlighted that the individual is not necessarily a passive bystander to his life events but rather is driven by an internal forward striving. Key concepts: Aaron Antonovsky, Alfred Adler, Apple Computers, Individual Psychology, Psychobiography, Sense of Coherence, Steven Paul Jobs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Moore, Noelle
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Jobs, Steve, 1955-2011 , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Computer engineers -- United States -- Biography
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9978 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021112
- Description: The study consists of a psychobiography of the American entrepreneur and innovative co-founder of Apple Computers, Steven Paul Jobs (1955 – 2011). The psychobiographical research method qualitatively considers the lived life of an individual in an attempt to understand the psychological development in the context of applied psychological theory. A theoretical integration of Adler‘s Individual Psychology and Antonovsky‘s Sense of Coherence was utilized in the present study. This integrative approach facilitated a dynamic and holistic picture of the individual‘s functioning in illuminating not only personality but also the individual‘s social context, choice making capacity, general resistance resources and the individual‘s ‗meaning making‘ capacity in the strive towards health and superiority. Steven Paul Jobs revolutionised personal computing. Ranked as Forbes‘ seventeenth most powerful person and Man of the Year by The Financial Times in 2010, Jobs‘ contribution to modern technology is widely acknowledged and revered. To ensure the accurate description of the lived life of Steven Paul Jobs, extensive data was examined by utilizing Alexander‘s model of identifying salient themes. The study considered the nature and methodology of psychobiography, the theories of Alfred Adler and Aaron Antonovsky and the life of Steven Paul Jobs that resulted in an integrated psychological description of the subject. The findings of this study indicate that Steven Paul Jobs‘ unique context (environment and constitutional attributes) was valuable in light of the theoretical frameworks that the present study is grounded upon as it illustrated an individual‘s self-determination and capacity to exercise choice in response to life challenges. The study highlighted that the individual is not necessarily a passive bystander to his life events but rather is driven by an internal forward striving. Key concepts: Aaron Antonovsky, Alfred Adler, Apple Computers, Individual Psychology, Psychobiography, Sense of Coherence, Steven Paul Jobs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
The possibility of a flexible wireless 3-D measurement in the modern automobile production
- Authors: Frede, Stefan
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Three-dimensional display systems , Automobile industry and trade , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9619 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1203 , Three-dimensional display systems , Automobile industry and trade , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Quality control
- Description: The quality control of geometrical coherences and relations in modern automobile production is done by different stationary and flexible measurement systems and strategies. Furthermore, there currently exists possibilities of inline measurements and offline measurements. This project presents the basic research concerning the possibility of a flexible wireless measurement system in modern automobile production, that is able to combine the advantages of both strategies. An investigation of existing measurement techniques was done in order to find a sensor technology, which enables the wireless measurement process. The research project introduces the current location systems and positioning systems. These techniques are compared by a value benefit analysis to expose a suited technology as basis for the measurement system. As result of the value benefit anlysis, the ultrasonic technique was selected for further investigations. The ultrasonic test setup is used to analyze the accuracy of modern sensors and to verify the possibility of a project related integration. The tests are done in different conditions, in order to compare the laboratory application and the industrial application. During the test measurements different physical influencing variables and disturbances occurred. From this research project, it can be concluded that the laboratory application of the system is possible. However, the industrial application is subject to restrictions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Frede, Stefan
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Three-dimensional display systems , Automobile industry and trade , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9619 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1203 , Three-dimensional display systems , Automobile industry and trade , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Quality control
- Description: The quality control of geometrical coherences and relations in modern automobile production is done by different stationary and flexible measurement systems and strategies. Furthermore, there currently exists possibilities of inline measurements and offline measurements. This project presents the basic research concerning the possibility of a flexible wireless measurement system in modern automobile production, that is able to combine the advantages of both strategies. An investigation of existing measurement techniques was done in order to find a sensor technology, which enables the wireless measurement process. The research project introduces the current location systems and positioning systems. These techniques are compared by a value benefit analysis to expose a suited technology as basis for the measurement system. As result of the value benefit anlysis, the ultrasonic technique was selected for further investigations. The ultrasonic test setup is used to analyze the accuracy of modern sensors and to verify the possibility of a project related integration. The tests are done in different conditions, in order to compare the laboratory application and the industrial application. During the test measurements different physical influencing variables and disturbances occurred. From this research project, it can be concluded that the laboratory application of the system is possible. However, the industrial application is subject to restrictions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
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