Magister Legum - LLM / Across the world, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)1 is disrupting the law.2 The 4IR has specifically disrupted commercial law in areas such as banking,3 competition,4 consumer protection,5 contract,6 insurance,7 labour,8 and personality.9 In addition, company law has also substantially been impacted by the 4IR. Leading legal scholars refer to this process of transformation as the ‘Digitalisation of Company Law’.10 More specifically, the scholars attribute the transformation to technological advancements.

A Indústria 4.0 surge com o objetivo de desenvolver fábricas inteligentes, com alto grau de autonomia e flexibilidade, através da adoção de tecnologias digitais de forma integrada nas empresas e suas cadeias de valor. Ao mesmo tempo, a Indústria 4.0 promove benefícios que vão além da performance operacional, como o desenvolvimento de novas ofertas e novos modelos de negócios para as empresas. A Indústria 4.0 é originada na Alemanha, país com alta performance tecnológica, e rapidamente inspira outras iniciativas no mundo inteiro, inclusive em países emergentes como o Brasil. Estes países possuem maiores barreiras para a adoção das tecnologias relacionadas ao conceito, principalmente devido à atual situação tecnológica dos seus parques industriais. Embora a Indústria 4.0 seja um tema crescente na literatura, ainda existem grandes lacunas de estudo sobre a adoção de tecnologias relacionadas ao conceito no contexto de países emergentes, principalmente por se tratar de uma iniciativa recente. Logo, o objetivo desta dissertação é estudar o conceito da Indústria 4.0 no Brasil, de forma a entender quais são os benefícios do conceito para a performance industrial e as tecnologias habilitadoras. O trabalho tem uma abordagem quantitativa, com análises estatísticas aplicadas em dados de pesquisas surveys conduzidas em nível nacional. Os principais resultados obtidos foram: (i) identificação da relação entre as tecnologias e os benefícios esperados do conceito, (ii) identificação de disparidades entre a percepção industrial brasileira e a literatura sobre os benefícios da Indústria 4.0, (iii) identificação da abrangência do conceito da Indústria 4.0, compreendendo elementos que transcendem a manufatura avançada, e (iv) identificação de tecnologias habilitadoras para a implantação do conceito. Sob a perspectiva acadêmica, esta dissertação traz importantes contribuições para o entendimento do conceito e das tecnologias da Indústria 4.0, assim como o impacto destas na performance industrial. Do ponto de vista prático, os resultados auxiliam na compreensão de um tema de alta relevância empresarial, contribuindo com perspectivas para a diretriz estratégica das empresas à Indústria 4.0. / Industry 4.0 arises with the goal to develop smart factories, with advanced autonomy and flexibility, through the adoption of digital technologies in an integrated manner in companies and in their value chains. The Industry 4.0enables benefits beyond operational performance, as the development of new offerings and new business models for companies. Industry 4.0 was developed in Germany, a country with high technological performance, and quickly inspires other initiatives in the whole world, in developed and emergent countries such as Brazil. These countries face major barriers for the adoption of technologies related to the concept, mainly due to the current technological level of their industrial sites. Even though Industry 4.0 is a growing field in literature, there are still considerable gaps of studies about the adoption of technologies related to the concept in the context of emergent countries, mostly due to its novelty. Therefore, this dissertation aims to study the concept of Industry 4.0 in Brazil, in order to understand its benefits for industrial performance and its enabling technologies. This study has a quantitative approach, with statistical analysis of data from national surveys. The main outcomes obtained were: (i) the identification of a relation between technologies and the expected benefits of the concept, (ii) the identification of disparities between Brazilian industrial perception and the literature about Industry 4.0 benefits, (iii) the identification of a wide scope of Industry 4.0 concept, comprising elements that transcends smart manufacturing, and (iv) the identification of enabling technologies for the implementation of the concept. Under academic perspective, this dissertation brings important contributions to understand the Industry 4.0 concept and technologies, and its impact on industrial performance. As practical contributions, the results contribute for the understandings of a high relevant theme for companies, contributing with perspectives for their strategical orientation towards Industry 4.0.

Background It is believed that the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) will bring about unprecedented change to the world, ultimately having such a deep impact that some argue it may change human life at its core. It is believed that many organisations will not survive the radical disruption that will ensue. On the contrary, some authors have argued that the 4IR will bring about many benefits and opportunities for organisations, as with previous revolutions, provided it is managed effectively by business leaders. Rationale for the research study There is a growing consensus that existing leadership styles and management practices may not be suitable for organisational performance for the 4IR. It has, therefore, been suggested that different theories, models or approaches to leadership will be required if organisations are to remain competitive and sustainably successful in a business context that will look very different to what leaders have been accustomed to. It is argued here that Leadership 4.0 and innovative management practices, may have merit in this context. Aim of the study This present study was an exploratory attempt to investigate the relationship between Leadership 4.0, innovative management practices and organisational performance capabilities for the 4IR. For the purposes of this study, 1) a range of leadership theories/models/approaches/styles, including Transactional Leadership, Transformational Leadership and Leadership 4.0; 2) innovative management practices, including human resource management, organising and information sharing, risk management and stakeholder management as they compare to the old and new economy; and 3) organisational performance capabilities, including human capital, digital risk management and business model value creation were investigated. Research Design, Sampling and realised sample An exploratory research design was followed, utilising a mixed method approach. A crosssectional approach was taken to data collection, with a composite questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study utilised to collect data. A realised sample of n=61 respondents, mainly 4 from local, privately owned, knowledge-intensive organisations was obtained using a convenience sampling approach. Statistical analyses Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression were utilised to estimate the relationships among the abovementioned constructs. Mediation analyses utilising the PROCESS macro was employed to test whether the relationship between Leadership 4.0 and organisational performance capabilities was mediated through innovative management practices. Results Statistically significant positive relationships were found between Leadership 4.0, Innovative Management Practices and Organisational Performance Capabilities. A regression model indicated that Leadership styles statistically significantly predicted the most variance in Organisational Performance Capabilities. Results further determined that Transactional Leadership explained a unique variance in risk management and digital risk management. Lastly, the test for mediation indicated that innovative management practices partially mediated the relationship between Leadership 4.0 and organisational performance capabilities. Findings: Findings from the results supported various discussions and studies in the literature and in practice that leadership, specifically Leadership 4.0, is an important element to navigating the uncertainties and challenges presented by the 4IR. Further evidence was also found in support of contingent leadership theories. Managerial Implications The findings of the present research study holds a practical implication for organisations in that the findings support the literature suggesting that leadership is a key element in organisational performance capabilities, specifically for survival and sustainability for the 4IR. The findings further contributes to a growing body of knowledge surrounding the 4IR, leadership, innovative management practices and organisational performance fields of research.

Flexible forms of employment Abstract The purpose of this thesis is to map the flexible forms of employment currently offered by the Czech legislation as well as those that might possibly become part of the legal system in the Czech Republic. Flexible forms of employment are currently on the rise, and it is therefore relevant to address the possibilities offered by the legislation. Part one focuses on defining the basic terms of the legal and theoretical framework of flexible forms of employment and in this context also the importance of flexicurity as a concept that has shaped the forms of flexible employment in the recent years. Second part of the thesis describes the specific forms of employment in terms of their legal regulation and what challenges are associated with the use of each individual form of flexible employment, furthermore this part explores aspects of flexibility that can be found within these types flexible employment. Examples of such flexible forms of employment mentioned include, but are not limited to, fixed-term employment, homeworking and, in terms of working hours, a condensed working week and flexible working hours. The next part discusses new emerging forms of flexible employment, namely job sharing, employee sharing, interim management, casual work, as well as new forms of...

This thesis is a critical, exploratory analysis of the impacts to the banking industry in South Africa, in light of the wave of technological change and emergence, termed in popular discourse as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR. The 4IR has been argued to offer the transformative potential to change and disrupt current societal organization and provide opportunities for developing countries such as South Africa to “leapfrog” into development. Many argue that as technology advances and progresses, it can be used to address socio-economic, developmental challenges and deliver services. In the banking sector, particularly in the context of developing countries, as large portions of the population remain excluded from formal financial services, digital banking methods premised on the technologies of the 4IR have emerged as potential “solutions”. What is often understated, however, that this study highlights, is that such technological advancements hold challenges. Moreover, as they are presented as solutions to the socioeconomic difficulties of developing countries, like financial exclusion, it is important that this is understood contextually, and critically and such challenges are presented. Through primarily qualitative case studies of two banks, Standard Bank and TymeBank, the study aimed to uncover the processes of digitisation occurring as well as the social processes that underlie them. Findings show that indeed, tangible examples of “4IR”/digitisation are identified at the two banks through technical application of emerging technologies, such as cloud computing and machine learning. However, more concerning are the social processes and strategic decisions that result in and out of their adoption. The 4IR in the context of this study appears to replicate ongoing social and economic inequalities, through inadequate digital infrastructures, and omni-present interests of neoliberalism presenting as digital capitalism. Additionally, carrying concern of adverse effects to the employment and labour landscape, the 4IR is deconstructed for its rhetorical meaning which contrasts with the reality. Hegemonic representations of a 4IR and its proposed ‘transformative benefits' do not correspond with actual phenomena and risk the neglecting of fundamental social challenges that are deepened by and new ones emerging out of digitisation.

The Covid-19 pandemic is changing the international business environment. This global event has forced the world into an unbalance, which influences how Swedish SMEs interpret their international operations. Through the international fluctuations, the digitalization has come to partake as an important factor in order to enable the possibility of maintaining an international presence. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to explore how the Covid-19 pandemic influences the digitalization within Swedish SMEs international operations.        In order to provide a sustainable foundation of the subject, this research have utilized the qualitative strategy. Collecting the data through semi-structured interviews enables a vast set of data, which have been comprehended in relation to chapter 2 Literature review. Through analyzing all gathered data, the outcome of the research illustrates how the pandemic influences the digitalization as well as firms’ international operations. Finally, the thesis conclude that the Covid-19 pandemic accelerates the digitalization within firms, which further influences how firms maintain an international presence. Conclusively, it is contemplated that the Covid-19 pandemic further creates what the authors call “The New Normal”.

Thesis(M.Sc. (Computer Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Spectrum scarcity is one of the major problems affecting the advancement of wireless technology. The world is now entering into a new era called the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” and technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain are surfacing at a rapid pace. All these technologies and this new era need high speed network (Internet) connectivity. Internet connectivity is reliant on the availability of spectrum Channels. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has emphatically alluded on the urgency of finding quick and effective solutions to the problem of spectrum scarcity because the available spectrum bands are getting depleted at an alarming rate. Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Networks (CRAHNs) have been introduced to solve the problem of spectrum depletion. CRAHNs are mobile networks which allow for two groups of users: Primary Users (PUs) and Secondary Users (SUs). PUs are the licensed users of the spectrum and SUs are the unlicensed users. The SUs access spectrum bands opportunistically by switching between unused spectrum bands. The current licensed users do not fully utilize their spectrum bands. Some licensed users only use their spectrum bands for short time periods and their bands are left idling for the greater part of time. CRNs take advantage of the periods when spectrum bands are not fully utilized by introducing secondary users to switch between the idle spectrum bands. The CRAHNs technology can be implemented in different types of routing environments including military networks. The military version of CRAHNs is called Military Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Networks (MCRAHNs). Military networks are more complex than ordinary networks because they are subject to random attacks and possible destruction. This research project investigates the delays experienced in routing packets for MCRAHNs and proposes a new routing algorithm called Spectrum-Aware Transitive Multicasting On Demand Distance Vector (SAT-MAODV) which has been optimized for reducing delays in packet transmission and increasing throughput. In the data transmission process, there are several levels where delays are experienced. Our research project focuses on Routing Path (RP) delay, Spectrum Mobility (SM) delay and Node Relay (NR) delay. This research project proposes techniques for spectrum switching and routing called Time-Based Availability (TBA), Informed Centralized Multicasting (ICM), Node Roaming Area (NRA) and Energy Smart Transitivity (EST). All these techniques have been integrated into SAT-MAODV. SAT-MAODV was simulated and compared with the best performing algorithms in MCRHANs. The results show that SAT-MAODV performs better than its counterparts

The research introduces the fourth industrial revolution philosophically, exploring the application of innovation and automation in broad terms and the Internet of Things (IoT) specifically within the mining industry. It explains the business and societal motivation for such interventions, highlighting some of the key benefits. It further explores the inadvertent risks, some of which have already manifested in mining applications and others which can be inferred from other industrial and social applications. A critical analysis is conducted of the application of the South African Mine Health and Safety Act and Regulations on such applications in the mining environment, as well as considering key other pieces of South African legislation. A comparative analysis with Australian legislation confirms that Western Australia has recognised the need for regulation and have started regulating, primarily mining automation, at least. Through these analyses it is established that a legislative vacuum exists, despite the general application of many requirements in relation to safety considerations during the utilisation of IoT applications. The paper concludes by recommending collaboration between the Department of Mineral Resources and the Chamber of Mines to seek ways to lead legislative and regulatory developments in this space in order to enable the sustainability of the South African mining industry. In particular, the research suggests the emphasis should be to legally encourage and permit the implementation of IoT solutions in the mining industry in as many instances as reasonably possible, whilst consecutively addressing the new and emerging risks created through such. / Mini Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Public Law / LLM / Unrestricted

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The Fourth Industrial Revolution has provided new opportunities to tackle problems in health, education, transport and many other sectors. In the financial sector, new financial technology (FinTech) is providing new ways of tackling the problem of financial exclusion. The uptake of cell phones has enabled financial service providers (FSPs) to expand into areas where the most vulnerable have hitherto been outside the reach of the banking agency model. This has ultimately allowed previously financially excluded individuals to have access to bank accounts. Through SMACT (Social Media, Mobile, Analytics, Cloud and the Internet of Things) technologies, FSPs are able to collect new types of data such as call detail record data and mobile app data which have been leveraged globally to enable the emergence of M-Pesa in Kenya, the WeChat payments module in China and KakaoBank, South Korea’s first online-only bank. The common thread in these innovations is that these are telecommunications company-led business models that have encroached into the area of finance. Such digital disruption has happened in South Africa but little is understood about how inclusive digital financial services are in the South African context. Moreover, what are the barriers to further financial inclusion, given that South Africa has significantly high bank account uptake rates? What role can the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies have in breaking those barriers and reaching the lower-income population that has largely been mis-sold financial products that were created for the middle to upper-income population? This study sought to investigate how the diffusion of SMACT technology has contributed to financial inclusion in the South African financial services sector. The study made use of a mixed methods approach to answer this research question. Finscope data from 2012 to 2015 was used as the data source for the quantitative section and key informant interviews as the source of data for the qualitative section. The study found that roughly 80% of adults in South Africa are financially included through formal banks. Despite the near 100% uptake rates of cell phones across all income groups, proximity to an ATM or bank branch still significantly determined whether an individual accessed formal financial services. The study also found that ATM withdrawal, store withdrawal and internet banking were infrequently utilised by lower-income adults. In terms of internet banking and digital financial services in general, financial products, especially digital credit, do not appear to be well aligned with the needs of the lower-income consumer. The mismatch of financial products and the needs of lower-income consumers is further worsened by poor financial literacy levels in South Africa, especially among lower-income consumers. The study concludes that more needs to be done to increase economic inclusion, digital inclusion and financial inclusion for the lower-income population in South Africa. While consumer protection and transparency are well covered in the regulatory and legislative framework to which FSPs by and large adhere, a more inclusive and sustainable financial sector will only exist if product fit, affordability, financial literacy and convenience issues are addressed. This should happen in an enabling environment where ICT infrastructure benefits all, interoperability of digital financial services is reached and a regulatory framework more focused on financial inclusion is in place.

Yes / Artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain are the two disruptive technologies emerging from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) that have introduced radical shifts in the industry. The amalgamation of AI and blockchain holds tremendous potential to create new business models enabled through digitalization. Although research on the application and convergence of AI and blockchain exists, our understanding of the utility of its integration for business remains fragmented. To address this gap, this study aims to characterize the applications and benefits of integrated AI and blockchain platforms across different verticals of business. Using bibliometric analysis, this study reveals the most influential articles on the subject based on their publications, citations, and importance in the intellectual network. Using content analysis, this study sheds light on the subject’s intellectual structure, which is underpinned by four major thematic clusters focusing on supply chains, healthcare, secure transactions, and finance and accounting. The study concludes with 10 application areas in business that can benefit from these technologies.