The JBS was established in 2017 and forms part of the college of business and economics at the university of Johannesburg (UJ). the school provides an interface for a business academia ecosystem, which stimulates and informs purpose-driven business practices with a collective impact. authentically African, and geared for industry 4.0, the JBS has disruption and innovation at heart. professor white notes: “These values act as pillars to support our strategy for collective impact and our desire to be a catalyst for connection on the African continent.”
From the strong foundations of UJ, with its rich academic heritage, the JBS is creating an accessible and progressive business school suited for Africa. “By embracing new technology to support teaching, the JBS will enable the creation of innovative new business models and produce visionary leaders geared for progress across the continent and connected to the world at large.” In their quest to produce these disruptive business models and visionary leaders, all programmes designed and delivered by the JBS are grounded in the African context, with a strong global connection.
According to Professor White, the programmes are geared for disruptors and entrepreneurs beyond the corporate climbers targeted by traditional programmes. “Development with a direct impact in the community, increasingly part of day-today business in Africa, underpins what the JBS represents and does. industry 4.0 requires so-called soft skills and humanism in leading and mentoring for competitive and progressive business performance. This is particularly relevant for Africa.”
Professor White notes that access to business education, especially in light of the management void across the continent, will be crucial, and online and distance learning will be essential in reaching previously excluded Africans, and necessary for the desired impact on the continent. The focus of the JBS is on developing and delivering bespoke options, with a keen focus on depth and creativity. “Like most strategies and operations in Africa, an alternative approach to the norm is not exempt from international standards. Africa needs a world-class business education with a local flavour to develop management competencies and build excellence. This is the model and approach JBS has taken.”
Apart from the continent’s ever-changing social, economic and political ebbs, the JBS is equipped to bring world-class business education to Africa because the institution is academically very strong, notes Professor White. Their offering includes undergraduate diplomas and degrees, postgraduate degrees and programmes, and will soon include a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
Despite burgeoning opportunities, he says, the African continent is a tricky place to do business. A rich tapestry of cultures, religions and languages layered over obscure geographical lines and vast distances create a business environment riddled with complexity.
“Economic disparities and a history of socio-political instability in a region that is institutionally weak and grossly underdeveloped means there is no such thing as ‘business as usual’. Conventional approaches and standard business acumen do not work. Preparing individuals and organisations for this context requires programmes with a difference.” JBS as a disruptor in the executive education category has two goals: designing programmes to match the demand of an emerging market, and reshaping existing programmes to meet the demand of customers as their needs evolve.
“As a late entrant to the business school market, JBS will be agile and adaptable in order to stay relevant and take advantage of the disrupted higher education environment by offering business skills for disruptors.” According to Professor White, higher education is vital in entering Industry 4.0 and ensuring that Africa becomes future-proof. “The scope of Industry 4.0 is far beyond its digital or information counterparts. It is a systemic transformation that impacts on civil society, governance structures, human identity, economics and manufacturing while integrating human beings and machines. The underlying technologies being Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, nanotechnology, biotechnology, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, autonomous vehicles and 3D printing.”
The creative problem solving and critical thinking skills taught at higher education institutions like UJ will play a critical role in both individuals’ and businesses’ ability to adapt to and thrive in Industry 4.0. “UJ also has the highest concentration of staff with PhDs in AI on our continent and we are more than ready to tackle this new era. At an unprecedented level, the global environment demands innovative business leaders with entrepreneurial spirit and government officials who can lead African businesses to the forefront of the global economy. It also needs those who can steer global businesses to succeed in Africa. With our focus on providing global management thought leadership and deep African insights, JBS prepares students for that role, giving them a critical edge for success.”
The rapid advancements in technology require executives to be on top of their game in terms of business strategy and the way forward. Professor White states: in this new era of complexity and uncertainty, bold, innovative and visionary leadership is required from both business and government alike. “The business environment in Africa in particular requires a fresh and innovative approach, one that is contextually relevant and mindful of socio-economic dynamics and culture beyond conventional business acumen. With a clear focus on African management and leadership in the global environment of business, these are the values and principles at the core of JBS.”
The executive education offerings of the JBS, facilitated by best in class faculty, provide delegates with a deep understanding of the current and future world of work. Within this context, delegates are challenged to operate with a global mindset when crafting and executing their business strategies. Commenting on the importance of the art of storytelling in developing effective organisational narratives, Professor White says the JBS Executive Programme was launched with this very idea in mind. “If you are a leader, you are a narrator.
Today, more and more organisations and institutions recognise the power of narrative and story as a core leadership discipline. This imperative to enable African storytellers is what the JBS aimed to achieve with its first programme in a progressive and accessible executive programme suite. The impact of storytelling is fully visible when developing any successful organisation. By inviting customers and markets to engage with your offerings, you create powerful mechanisms to preserve your unique culture, archive knowledge, and speed up the change process.”
Asking Professor White what makes a good leader, he notes that to lead consciously is vital in ensuring success. “The idea of cultivating conscious leadership is a principle that is imbued in the offerings at JBS. Leaders are required to lead with purpose and generate value that is not only measured by profit but by sustainable social impact. True aspiring leaders are willing to step out of their comfort zones to challenge their existing paradigms and lead with a strong sense of self-awareness. This can only be achieved through immersive experiences that allow leaders to introspect and evolve.”
Professor Lyal White is senior director of the Johannesburg Business School.
Published in Fast Company January 2019
www.jbs.ac.za
