THE FUTURE IS DIGITAL: WHY AN EDUCATED YOUTH IS KEY TO UNLOCKING SOUTH AFRICA’S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

THE FUTURE IS DIGITAL: WHY AN EDUCATED YOUTH IS KEY TO UNLOCKING SOUTH AFRICA’S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

By Nashid Cassiem, Operations General Manager at redAcademy

Digitisation and technology are widely regarded as having the potential to spur economic growth, with opportunities for youth in digital jobs a key consideration for their own career sprint. This is true, and spoken about often, but the truth is that unless all stakeholders act intentionally now, we’ll still be having this conversation in many years’ time instead of having made real progress.

There is a cross-functional responsibility between government, the private sector and tertiary education institutions to ensure that South Africa’s youth  are prepared to take advantage of the massive employment opportunities in technology broadly, and software development specifically. 

We have found that many of our youth, while comfortable using technology, have little understanding of software development and how it underpins almost every aspect of our digital lives. While disappointing now, it presents a massive opportunity to change things to the benefit of young people and our economy. 

To make a difference on a national scale may sound daunting, but there can be massive strides if each and every stakeholder – no matter where they fit in the bigger picture – takes the lead in their sphere of influence to increase the size of the skills pool. This is exactly what we are doing at redAcademy, reaching out to young people at a matric level to introduce the opportunities offered in IT and the software development industry. 

All of us involved in the value chain, at every level, should ask ourselves how we can deliberately expose, motivate, share and teach our youth. 

What South Africa’s youth and tertiary educators can do to fast track young people into software development careers

While Bachelor degrees at mainstream universities and colleges serve an important purpose, they are not the only route to a successful career in software development. Holistic learning opportunities, such as those taught at redAcademy can fast-track a career in the industry, by offering a blended approach to learning with a focus on experiential learning, and young people need to be prepared to take advantage of such opportunities. Two of the main characteristics we look for in our teams are commitment and passion accompanied by an interest in software development. 

This is where educators and learners can change the game. There are a wealth of resources available online, many of which are open source, and it is of utmost importance that young people and their educators familiarise themselves with these resources and explore the various, but relevant coding languages.

Beyond the important coding skills that a young person requires to enter the IT industry they must embody a culture of accountability, resilience and be creative problem-solvers. Certainly from redAcademy’s perspective, these are the traits that give matric leavers the edge entering the software world. Learning and development during the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) involves more than just the lecture hall  and studying – it goes without saying that it requires practical application that includes research, self-learning, completing digital exercises and building web applications and in doing so, creating artefacts that can be used as a portfolio of evidence for future employment.

It may appear as though this is unnecessary extra work. However, it is crucial because the world is not an easy place. Many young people, including those who study for degrees at formal learning institutions, are just not equipped with coping mechanisms to deal with the rough and tumble of the real world. Setting a goal, seeing it through, being resilient and meticulously working through real software development programmes while still at school sets learners apart. 

What government and private sector stakeholders do to fast-track young people into the IT skills pool

Longer term, what is being taught in tertiary education institutions and what is being used in the real world has to be aligned. The digitisation of the education system does not only mean moving classes online, one can teach outdated material using digital tools. The digitisation of the education system in this context means that young people are taught theory and an appropriate degree of practical skills that are relevant for the 4IR as technology evolves at breakneck speed – which is quite the opposite of the education system. 

In the private sector, businesses need to look within their areas of influence and decide how they can support growing the skills base. The truth is that this is not an activity of goodwill only – It is about long-term survival and future-proofing the software development industry that will continue becoming more and more central to almost every aspect of the digital economy.

The future is digital

There is an exciting world out there that is desperate for new skills. Many stakeholders are actively going into communities and finding high-potential learners and exposing them to software development, even if only to light the fire of curiosity. This is important because opportunity can change lives.

The take-home message for young people should be: Think about stories we read about successful entrepreneurs or young people who climbed the career ladder to achieve great success. While we see the end result, and celebrate the possibility, appreciate that behind those success narratives are stories about resilience, passion, failure, disappointment, and a continual-learning mindset. Start today – read up about software development. Learn as much as you can. Take advantage of free / open source online learning resources. Attend talks and workshops and involve your educators. With this, you will be laying the foundation upon which you will build your software development career.

Editor@tech-talk.co.za

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Digital transformation has been a challenge for public sector organisations, but the changes wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic have accelerated the transition.

By Amritesh Anand, associate vice-president at In2IT Technologies

While legacy architecture and infrastructure remain a challenge, it is often the mindsets of people that are the biggest stumbling block. The right IT partner can be an invaluable asset in smoothing the path toward digital transformation and helping the public sector deliver projects that add value for the citizens of the country while improving productivity and efficiency.

Where the value lies

Any digital transformation initiative needs to focus on delivering tangible, value-creating outcomes for the public. However, the lack of a clear digital transformation strategy has historically proven to be a challenge for the public sector.

Public sector initiatives are also more likely to exceed initial cost and time estimates due to a number of factors, such as less effective risk management; difficulties in recruiting, retaining, and developing talent; slower governance processes; and less pressure to deliver minimum viable products.

The success rate of public sector IT for efficient digital transformation is thus low. This is where the choice of the right IT partner is crucial, as they are an essential element of ensuring a seamless transition from legacy to digital. The success of an IT project is dependent on staying within budget, completing the project on time, and delivering the project’s intended benefits.

To achieve this, four key performance levers should be addressed, specifically strategy, technology, governance, and adoption. Choosing the right IT partner will not only assist in timely and efficient delivery of the project, it will also help in the long-term support and maintenance of the system.

Addressing the user adoption challenge

Adoption is one of the critical pillars of a successful digital transformation execution. In the public sector, driving adoption often involves complex bureaucratic and long-established processes, whereas the private sector is generally less constrained.

To avoid all these time-consuming processes, public institutions can start by understanding the operational requirements – which calls for the involvement of business departments early on – and then introducing organisational change.

Best practices for change management, which a specialist IT partner will be able to deliver, include communicating with transparency, transferring ownership of the project to the business, involving frontline management, co-creating, and delivering on-the-job training, and building trust with the employees whose work will change in the new operating model.

The key to success

The public sector should also consider that employee experience will take a lead in digital transformation plans. Enhancing this experience requires an investment in new tools, capabilities, and processes. Making investments in these areas will yield long-term benefits – a study by McKinsey and company found that, if implemented correctly, accelerated adoption of digital technologies could triple South Africa’s productivity growth and employment creation by 2030.

Investment in skills development is critical not only for driving digital transformation in the private sector but also for the economic stability and growth of the country as a whole. The development and elevation of skills within the ICT sector is key to successful digital transformation, which in turn is essential for South Africa’s future success.

Partnering with the right IT service provider is essential in delivering a smooth transition and maximised user adoption to bring the public sector into the digital age.

Editor@tech-tali.co.za