The DaVinci Institute’s Head of Faculty: Innovation Management and Head of Programme: Bachelor of Commerce, Dr Mamohau Sekgaphane’s thesis, Towards REBIRTH in Organisational Change and Development, presents a pioneering framework for inclusive organisational transformation rooted in African philosophy and integral research methodology. Centred around her work at FNB Private Wealth Client-Servicing, the study introduces REBIRTH, a holistic transformation journey that integrates self, community, and organisation to drive social innovation and ecological balance.
From Personal Journey to Organisational Renewal
The thesis intertwines three interconnected journeys:
- Personal Rebirth – Dr Sekgaphane’s self-discovery and grounding in authentic African identity.
- rebirth (lowercase) – The transformation journey within FNB’s business unit, aimed at reviving organisational performance and culture.
- REBIRTH (uppercase) – A replicable organisational change and development (OCD) methodology that serves as her academic and practical contribution to the field.
Grounded in Botho-Ubuntu, REBIRTH reclaims African values of humanity, interdependence, and community as the foundation for sustainable organisational change.
The 4C Integral Journey: A Framework for Transformation
Dr Sekgaphane’s research draws from Lessem and Schieffer’s 4C Integral Framework, Call, Context, Co-creation, and Contribution, to guide the REBIRTH process:
- Call (South): Grounding in identity, purpose, and the human spirit.
- Context (East): Understanding environment and communal foundations.
- Co-creation (North): Collaboration through Communities of Practice (CoPs) to identify problems and innovate collectively.
- Contribution (West): Effecting sustainable transformation and social innovation.
This cyclical journey mirrors the African womb metaphor, symbolising regeneration, wisdom, and interconnectedness.
REBIRTH as a Methodology for Inclusive Transformation
REBIRTH offers a Southern-based organisational change and development model that contrasts Western technocratic approaches. It integrates eight human aspects, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, moral, physical, work, social, and leadership quotients, to develop holistic, conscious leaders.
The model employed Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Integral Research Approach (IRA), ensuring transformation emerges from within the organisation through shared dialogue, storytelling, and cultural reconnection. These methods enable authentic participation and community ownership of change.
Applying REBIRTH at FNB Private Wealth Client-Servicing
Faced with declining performance and reputational risk, FNB Private Wealth Client-Servicing became the testing ground for the REBIRTH transformation journey. Through Communities of Practice, employees collaboratively explored identity, purpose, and inclusion, guided by the unit’s philosophy, “I Care, I Can, I Commit.”
The initiative redefined leadership through a maternal, inclusive lens, promoting empathy, ethics, and collective accountability. This approach not only revived organisational culture but also enhanced innovation, client service, and employee engagement.
Towards a New Science of Organisational Change
Dr Sekgaphane positioned REBIRTH as a new science of Organisational Change and Development, blending indigenous wisdom, spiritual intelligence, and systemic innovation. It proposes that true transformation occurs when organisations reconnect with their humanity and the ecology around them.
REBIRTH, therefore, is not merely a methodology; it is a movement towards inclusive transformation, offering a uniquely African contribution to global organisational thought. It calls for enterprises to re-engage with identity, community, and moral consciousness as pathways to social and economic renewal.
Africa’s Gift to the World: Organisational Change
In conclusion, echoing Steve Biko’s vision of Africa giving the world “a more human face,” Dr Sekgaphane’s REBIRTH thesis positions the continent as a wellspring of integral, humane leadership and organisational wisdom. Through REBIRTH, she demonstrates that transformation begins within, through identity, community, and the rediscovery of our shared humanness.
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