WAVES OF CHANGE


apparent trends causing societal change are the development of new and advanced communications technology enabling information sharing and improved transport modes allowing for unprecedented mobility. Together these have created and inspired social change and other consequent indirect dimensions of change, including political change, socio-economic change, change in trade, change in societies and much more. The changes in these subsystems are causing ongoing, overall change in the entire system.


Demands on Parliament in the technological society Parliament as an institution representing the people and ensuring government by the people finds itself in the middle of this scenario.


The function of Parliament and the nature of its business processes are based on a combination of these subsystems. Parliament’s existence draws from the political, social and socio-economic subsystems, whilst its business processes comprise elements in the technology subsystem, especially technology in the information and communication sectors. One can say that Parliament operates extensively in the information sector or industry. If such positioning is accurate,


then it will be helpful for Parliaments to take note of the various forces driving change in the information industry. Examples of these could be the banking sector, or the publication sector (news): both are engaged with ongoing restructuring and change due to the expansion of services


via information communication technology. News groups are today leveraging


the social and technology dimension not only by publishing in electronic and mobile formats, but also by incorporating the social network as a source and channel of local and other news. It is a prime example of how to change, and to use change as an opportunity to extend business. Clearly, the new trends hold both opportunity and threat. With regard to Parliament, a few


key forces underpin our present change process. First, the public’s need and ability to access information on decisions in government has increased exponentially over the last two decades. The public is demanding more open, more accountable government. The


The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue One - South Africa | 59


A chamber in Parliament’s Good Hope Building, which was used in the past to house apartheid’s President’s Council during the era of the tricameral Parliament. It has not always been part of Parliament – in about 1900 it was a music hall and theatre – but is now used by Parliament and the Presidency.


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