International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration IASIA on July 20-25, 2020 in Bela-Bela, South Africa

IASIA Conference 2020

“Public Administration in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”

20-25 July 2020 in Bela Bela, South Africa .

The International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) is organizing in

close collaboration with the University of South Africa the IASIA Conference 2020 to be held on

20-25 July 2020 in Bela Bela-Limpopo Province, South Africa.

The conference will bring together practitioners, academics, PhD students and young researchers

in public administration and management, as well as contributors from any other disciplines who

will exchange on current and ongoing topics and concerns during the various sessions:

• Plenary sessions
• Special panels/forums
• Permanent and ad-hoc Working Groups’ sessions
• PhD Seminar.

Introduction to the theme

The world and technology are changing at a faster rate than ever before.

The first industrial revolution introduced the steam engine, the second mass industrialization,

and the third is known as the digital revolution.

Coined by Schwab (2016), the term Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR or Industry 4.0 denotes

the unique convergence of the physical, digital and biological worlds. At the core of the Fourth

Industrial Revolution lies the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT is a network upgrading the functionality

of everyday objects. The IoT is expected to have a big influence on citizen’s lives (Rouse 2019),

through disruptive technologies and trends such as Smart Cities, Robotics, Virtual Reality (VR) and

Artificial Intelligence (AI), which together constitute 4IR.

4IR offers huge potential to transform and realign economies and societies. It is expected to create

a profound shift in all industries by reshaping production, consumption, transportation and the

delivery of services. According to Li et al (2017: 637), it provides great opportunities especially for

developing countries to upgrade industrial capacity and create markets at a faster pace.

Regarding public services, the Fourth Industrial Revolution – and the innovative use of technologies

in e-governance processes more generally – allows improving the quality of life of citizens. For

example, Smart Cities can assist citizens and the public service to reduce water and energy

consumption. Public services such as education and healthcare can be delivered at lower costs,

with improved efficiency and effectiveness, and more transparency, accountability, engagement

and communication with citizens (Schwab 2016: 127).

Yet 4IR also creates numerous challenges for governments, public servants and citizens.

Most governments are still struggling to understand the implications of the fourth industrial

revolution (Schwab 2016: 36). Adapting to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and new technologies

is taking time: facts or information need to be collected, and regulatory frameworks designed. Yet

citizens, especially millennials, live in an on-demand society (the now world), and expect public

servants to respond immediately to their needs and expectations. Governments thus need to

make swift decisions without full information, at risk of failing to seize the opportunities of better

public services offered by the 4IR. At the same time, they also need to carefully plan for the future

(Lye 2017).

4IR could also cause disruptions to citizens. Governments should be prepared for increased

unemployment and inequality flowing from automatization of routine tasks. Failing to mitigate

the effects and consequences of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Lye 2017) could result in

social unrest. Overall, governments must maximize positive social and environmental outcomes

unlocked by 4IR innovations while mitigating their risks. This supposes the development of

knowledge, skills, human and material resources.