Blessing Kadira, Dirk Rossouw, Maria Bounds
Abstract
Clinical laboratories are integral to the clinical research industry for the development of new drugs. Historically, clinical laboratories in developed countries have done all specialised testing for clinical research purposes. The more specialised diagnostic testing has been referred to clinical laboratories in the developed countries from the developing countries. This is owing to the unavailability of specialists or the relevant equipment and reagents to carry out these procedures in the latter countries. Theorists have found that the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has brought technology to the doorstep of developing nations. Given this context, the study sought to explore the role of strategy and technology at a clinical laboratory in South Africa to attract more medical research and routine diagnostic testing. This study followed an interpretive paradigm and a qualitative enquiry, supported by a case study strategy. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews of 20 purposively selected stakeholders from the clinical laboratory. Conventional content analysis was applied to create codes, categories and themes. Their responses showed that a clinical laboratory can be more viable with 4IR-driven technology and a purpose driven strategy.