The study investigated the state of leadership readiness in the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) to develop policy for the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). The DTPS is the lead Department in terms of 4IR within the Public Service and there are specific skills that are required within the DTPS to effectively lead in this regard. This study investigated the perceived gap between current skills and required skills in DTPS. The study adopted a qualitative method to obtain leaders' views and opinions by conducting structured and semi-structured interviews. The nature of the study is exploratory. A total of 10 DTPS employees, both female and male on a 50/50 basis were interviewed on the skills of the leaders' state of readiness in developing policy for 4IR. The study findings identified an absence of problem-solving, analytical, creative, technical, conflict management, collaboration and artificial intelligence, innovation and change management skills. It recommends that these competencies be included in the current Public Service Competency Assessment Framework that ensures that leaders are ready for policy development for 4IR.

中文翻译：

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调查南非电信和邮政服务部领导人为第四次工业革命制定政策的准备情况

该研究调查了电信和邮政服务部 (DTPS) 的领导层准备状态，以制定第四次工业革命 (4IR) 的政策。DTPS 是公共服务中 4IR 方面的牵头部门，DTPS 需要特定技能才能在这方面有效领导。本研究调查了当前技能与 DTPS 所需技能之间的感知差距。本研究采用定性方法，通过结构化和半结构化访谈的方式获取领导者的观点和意见。该研究的性质是探索性的。共有 10 名 DTPS 员工（按 50/50 的比例）接受了关于领导者制定 4IR 政策准备状态技能的访谈。研究结果表明缺乏解决问题的能力，分析、创意、技术、冲突管理、协作和人工智能、创新和变革管理技能。它建议将这些能力纳入当前的公共服务能力评估框架，以确保领导者为 4IR 的政策制定做好准备。