Abstract
The world is currently in the early stages of a revolution that is fundamentally changing how humanity lives, works and relates; the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), which implies profound and systemic change driven by the rise of new technologies and digitisation. For South Africa, 4IR presents substantial opportunities on one hand, and critical challenges on the other. Such changes are particularly glaring in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, of which the growth has been hampered largely. Almost simultaneously, consumer preferences are changing and individual consumption is declining, forcing manufacturers to explore alternative products and new markets. These mutations have shown that smart technologies can drastically alter the fate of the industry, so much so that leadership that is fit and ready to lead in these unprecedented times becomes key. Using a phenomenological framework, the purpose of this research was to identify leadership imperatives for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the South African FMCG industry. Thirteen participants were identified using purposive and snowball sampling. After obtaining participant consent, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. These interviews were recorded via MS Teams and subsequently transcribed, analysed and classified into themes. The findings illuminated three key themes, namely what leaders need to know (knowing), what leaders need to do (doing) and what leaders need to be (being). From the findings, what leaders need to know consisted of digital savviness and foresight, strategy and contextual intelligence. What leaders need to do included leading with Emotional Intelligence (EQ), transforming the leadership profile, moving with agility, flexibility and speed, and catalysing for change. What leaders need to be entailed being visionary and futuristic, led by purpose, curious with a growth mind-set, die-hard collaborators, not being the sole nucleus of ideas and decisions, as well as being agents of inclusion. The recommendations centered on three primary audiences, that is, the individual leader, the FMCG industry and the organisational and leadership development specialists, who influence culture and design programmes to help leaders grow. Key words: Fourth Industrial Revolution, Leadership, Leadership Imperatives, FMCG.
M.Phil. (Management Leadership in Emerging Economies)