Category: Analysis

  • DaVinci Executive Shares Entrepreneurial Insights on Radio

    DaVinci Executive Shares Entrepreneurial Insights on Radio

    At The DaVinci Institute, DaVinci Executive Dr Sam February exemplifies our commitment to co-creating realities that foster sustainable, human-centred innovation. This ethos came to life in a recent Rise FM interview, where he joined Taking Care of Business to unpack the importance of entrepreneurship education.

    Speaking with clarity and purpose, Dr February challenged the traditional mindset that sees young people as future employees waiting to slot into a job-giving economy. Instead, he proposed a radical but necessary shift, nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset from an early age, not as an afterthought, but as a core part of how we educate and empower.

    Listen to the interview By The DaVinci Executive

    Listen to the interview here:

    Dr Sam February Executive Business Development
    Dr Sam February, Executive: Business Development

    Co-Creating a New Educational Mindset

    During the conversation, Dr February challenged the traditional belief that education should prepare young people solely for employment. Instead, he advocated for a bold shift, one that positions entrepreneurship as a way of thinking that must be nurtured from early on in a learner’s journey.

    He highlighted the need for communities, educators, families and leaders to work together in co-creating an environment where innovation and agency are encouraged. Entrepreneurship, he emphasised, is not simply about running a business. It’s about helping young people see new possibilities for their lives and communities, and equipping them to take meaningful action.

  • Celebrating 20 Years of Co-Creative Engagements

    Celebrating 20 Years of Co-Creative Engagements

    We are about to celebrate the success of our DaVinci graduates on 28 and 29 May 2025, witnessing the applied academic achievements of individuals who have completed their learning journeys at either the undergraduate or postgraduate level.

    The Journey Was Never Easy

    Did this happen with ease? Most probably not, as journeys into the unknown are often characterised by challenge, commitment, experimentation, the consideration of alternative options, endurance, and a great sense of being all on your own at times.

    Challenging the Status Quo

    Graduating from our own journey of 20 years, the process has not been different. The challenge to embed an alternative education methodology, accompanied by different product offerings within a traditional and structured environment, has provided for continuous interrogation by peers:

    Questions That Shaped Our Identity

    • Why do you want to offer a PhD with coursework?
    • Why do you want to allocate varying credit weightings to different modules?
    • Why do you want to include a credit-bearing reflective exit-level assignment in concluding a programme?
    • Why do you want to allow students to consider compiling a critical review of a summative assessment if the modular content doesn’t align with their reality?
    • Why do you think technology management and innovation management are disciplinary fields of study?
    • Why are textbooks not considered to be the only reference?
    • Why don’t you institute examinations?
    • Why do you rely so strongly on industry specialists and their experience?

    Yet, since the inception of DaVinci, many individuals and corporations (both public and private) have signed up to become participants in this self-directed learning journey, even though it is still a work in progress.

    Building a Community of Co-Creators

    Prof Ben Anderson delivering a speech
    Prof Ben Anderson delivering a speech

    A total of 3,376 graduates completed their programmes at DaVinci over the past 20 years, of whom 612 completed postgraduate programmes, whilst 2,764 completed undergraduate programmes.

    As expected, being novel and new, DaVinci also drew the attention of typical Trojan horses, disguised as individuals or groups of individuals who were, and still are, interested in how we operate: unexpected visits from strangers seemingly interested in how our business model works; critics who complained to regulators, urging them to inspect our offerings; individuals (both staff and students) who signed up without the necessary commitment to co-create; and people singing DaVinci’s praises, hoping someone will pose a dark question.

    Measuring Two Decades of Impact

    As part of the Trojan analogy and the 20-year celebration of DaVinci’s success, DaVinci also needed to revisit who is on her side and whom she needs to keep on her side. In this regard, the role of our fellow DaVincian staff, students, alumni, and business associates is critical. We are, therefore, revisiting and realigning our engagements with each of you and are looking forward to the future with you on our side. The ultimate dream has not been achieved yet…

  • 2025 Budget Speech Analysis: Smart spending fuels growth

    2025 Budget Speech Analysis: Smart spending fuels growth

    The efficacy of spending is not simply a good idea, but a strategic pathway for answering the growth question.

    The decision to postpone the delivery of the 2025 budget by cabinet on the 19th of February 2025 to the 12th of March 2025, was not only a reminder that South Africa is governed through coalition government dynamics in the GNU. It was also a reminder of the complex fiscal policy choices that confronts its 31-year-old democracy.

    In a world where some of the leading economies are governed through coalition arrangements, the postponement of the budget signals a new era. While this unprecedented delay may suggest a crisis or strain within the cabinet, it can also be seen as a sign of South Africa’s maturing democracy—an opportunity to elevate the quality of discourse around fiscal policy choices and broader economic strategies.

    The initial tax proposal to increase value added tax (VAT) from 15% to 17%, to a revised 0.5% in 2025/26 and another 0.5% in 2026/27, in order to finance key priorities such as expanding the headcount of front facing public servants in health, education and other essential services. Thus, raising R28 billion in additional revenue in 2025/26 and R14.5 billion in 2026/27 respectively.

    The socioeconomic determinants that inform SA’s fiscal policy are reflected in the policy framework. The elevated levels of unemployment, inequality and poverty are binding constraints to the country’s long-term prospects. In responses to this, on the expenditure side, the growth in government spending has been more pronounced in areas such as social development, education and healthcare. The unintended consequence, in the advent of limited resources, areas such as general public services and economic development have taken somewhat of a backseat. In the period, 2024/25 to 2026/27 the net increase for social development and education is  R47.1 billion and R11.2 billion respectively. In comparison to R23.8 billion for economic development. Which is an improvement from the 2024/25 budget.

    It goes without saying that all of these spending priorities are indeed important. Whilst acknowledging this reality, bold steps need to be taken to unlock economic growth because the reduction in important fiscal ratios such as the debt-to-GDP and spending allocations are a function of economic growth.

    From a sustainability point of view, economic development activity is important in order to grow the economy and broaden the tax base. This would improve the pool of available resources. The additional R3.5 billion allocation to the collector of revenue is another important step to increase tax compliance. This is important as it will strengthen SA’s efforts in relation to illicit financial flows and the risk areas identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Greylist. Wherein, significant progress has been made thus far. The effect of this, will be realized in lower borrowing costs in the bond markets.

    The efficacy of government spending, in this context, is crucial. Government will soon publish the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP), which forecasts a 3% GDP growth over the next 5 years, provided that specific interventions are implemented effectively. The factors that should anchor such a plan, over the next 5 years ought to be complimented by the budget are:

    • The extent to which there is improvement in the efficacy of government spending.
    • The optimal tax rates for SA given the prevailing macroeconomic condition and forecast period.  
    • The extent to which SA’s fiscal and industrial policy conditions are able to attract further foreign direct investment to bridge the additional 15% of GDP fixed investment required to increase GDP growth to 5% and flatten unemployment and reduce poverty.

    We should anticipate a heightened debate regarding the proposed budget for 2025/26 in light of the proposed VAT adjustments and reduced collections from corporate taxes. More importantly, the unseen cost of a lack of good governance in some organs of state should receive more attention and preconditions may have to be considered, followed up on and reported on effectively to prevent leakages in the system. In the event that this foundation is set, the growth question for SA will be answered.

  • Navigating the Maze of Polarised Conversations

    Navigating the Maze of Polarised Conversations

    Prof. Paul Singh.
    Prof. Paul Singh.

    In the bustling heart of Sandton, amidst the convergence of minds at the Ethics & HR Governance Conference, Professor Paul Singh, Director of Ethics Edge, delivered a compelling presentation that was both a call to arms and a guide for navigating the treacherous waters of our polarised discourse. His talk, “Depolarising Charged Conversations and Dealing with Some Uncomfortable Truths,” served as an academic discourse and a blueprint for fostering meaningful communication in an era of division.

     

    The Crucible of Polarisation

    Singh commenced by dissecting the anatomy of polarisation, elucidating how our era, dominated by digital echo chambers and binary thinking, has exacerbated the divide on various hot-button issues. He provocatively challenged the audience, through a game of “What I know?” to confront their biases and preconceptions, laying the groundwork for a journey towards understanding the complexity inherent in these discussions.

     

    Embracing Complexity Over Simplification

    A central tenet of Singh’s address was the advocacy for complexity over the seductive lure of simplification. He illustrated this through the prism of climate change discourse, where the spectrum of beliefs ranges from alarmed to dismissive. This diversity of perspectives, as Singh articulated, demands an acknowledgement of the nuanced realities that defy binary categorisation.

    Prof. Paul Singh.
    Prof. Paul Singh.

     

    The Labyrinth of Inconvenient Truths

    In an era where information is both weapon and currency, Singh stressed the importance of embracing a multifaceted approach to understanding issues. He lamented the prevalence of desirability bias and how it shapes our engagement with complex subjects like climate change. Singh illustrated the dangers of oversimplification through examples ranging from scientific consensus to the polarised media landscape on coffee consumption’s health impacts.

     

    Caveats, Contingencies, and the Quest for Nuance

    Singh’s discourse ventured into the realms of scientific communication, urging a balanced approach that acknowledges caveats and contingencies. This, he argued, opens windows to future discoveries rather than closing doors with definitive conclusions. He cautioned against the allure of narrative coherence at the expense of accuracy, advocating for recognising the complex tapestry of evidence that may not always align with our preconceived notions.

     

    Mixed Feelings: The Human Dimension

    Perhaps the most resonant part of Singh’s presentation was his exploration of the emotional landscape of polarised discussions. He delved into the complexities of empathy, challenging the simplistic advice of “walking in another’s shoes” with real-world examples that underscore the difficulty of truly understanding opposing viewpoints.

     

    Conclusion: The Path Forward

    In concluding his presentation, Singh posited that charged conversations are an invitation to embrace the complexity of reality. He urged the audience to adopt the “3 P’s” – perspective, patience, and perseverance – as tools for navigating the challenging yet invigorating journey towards greater understanding and progress.

     Singh’s presentation at the SABPP Conference was more than an academic discourse; it was a clarion call for introspection, understanding, and action. As we navigate the divisive landscapes of our time, his insights offer a beacon of hope for those willing to engage with the world in all its complexity.