Integrated energy and chemicals company Sasol has partnered with Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) professor and founder and CEO of PanAvest Partnership Dr Douglas Boateng to publish a series of books on executive supply chain management aimed at developing sorely needed supply chain skills in Africa.
Over 7 000 copies of the first book in the executive insight series were distributed at no charge to the continent’s supply chain fraternity, selected government departments, and management and business schools last month.
“The books will increase executive awareness of the inextricable link between supply chain management and South Africa and the rest of the continent’s long-term industrialisation, job creation and government service delivery quality efforts,” says Boateng, adding that the developed world has successfully used supply chain management to industrialise, improve government service delivery quality, create sustainable jobs, undertake value addition to their resources and to promote small to medium-sized enterprise growth.
“I believe that with long-term collective supply chain thinking, Africa can do the same,” he says.
Executive director and CEO of SBL Dr Renosi Mokate says the institution is pleased to be the first on the continent to be receiving the books.
“SBL will continue to collaborate to develop professional supply chain management skills in both the public and private sector. Improved skills at executive level are vital to foster positive socioeconomic change in Africa. Effective supply chain management is a key component of the future industrialisation of South Africa, as well as the rest of the African continent,” he says.
Boateng highlights that in South Africa, statistics released by the Department of Trade and Industry confirm that 70% of small businesses fail within the first year.
“We need to protect these small businesses to stem our soaring unemployment rates. I believe that inclusive Afro-centric supply chain strategies and innovative partnerships between the public and private sector can go a long way to address these issues,” he notes.
Sasol is one of the country’s largest investors in capital projects, skills development and research.
“We value Sasol’s support for this project as it will assist with executive skills development as well as driving awareness of the strategic importance of effective supply chain management,” says Boateng.
He notes that without executive professional skills, coupled with a coherent and long-term supply chain management strategy, South Africa will not be able to achieve the National Development Plan’s 2030 vision.