Complementary Themes for South Africa’s Information and Knowledge Management Practitioners in the 4IR

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the supplemental or complementary areas of study that information and knowledge management (IKM) practitioners need to pursue to succeed in the 4IR. Against the backdrop of limited empirical guidance on 4IR preparedness within the South African context, the research addresses the urgent need for structured upskilling to ensure that IKM business units remain relevant, competitive, and strategically positioned in increasingly digital environments. This was a pilot study for a PhD, from which three journal articles have been published. The study employed a Delphi methodology involving eight experts, equally drawn from academia and industry. Two rounds of data collection were conducted using anonymised questionnaires to ensure unbiased evaluation and consensus building. The first round aimed to collect as many thematic responses as possible, whereas the second round was used to determine consensus on the identified critical areas of study for IKM practitioners’ success in the 4IR. In the second round, participants evaluated these items using a five-point importance scale. Consensus was defined as a collective agreement or strong agreement across participants. ChatGPT was utilised to write the abstract only, while Grammarly was used for grammar enhancement. The findings revealed 16 overarching themes as foundational for IKM advancement in the 4IR. Notably, consensus was reached on two dominant themes: information security and theoretical knowledge of 4IR pillars. Information security emerged as the highest-ranked priority, underscoring the need to safeguard digital assets against unauthorised access, alteration, and destruction. Theoretical knowledge of 4IR pillars, including artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, cybersecurity, Internet of Things, systems integration, simulations, augmented reality, autonomous robotics, and additive manufacturing, was identified as essential for enabling innovation and informed strategic participation. The study serves as a blueprint for curriculum and professional development. By emphasising interdisciplinary competencies beyond traditional IKM boundaries, the results aim to position practitioners to compete effectively alongside intelligent systems and improve their employability scores. While context-specific adaptations are necessary, the results offer a scalable foundation for future research and continuous refinement, contributing to workforce development, digital transformation, and broader socio-economic advancement aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.