Advancing renewable energy transition through employee empowerment in the South African telecommunications sector

Abstract

South African firms continue to experience a decline in performance due to energy insecurity caused by the nation's overreliance on fossil fuels, which also contribute to environmental degradation. The telecommunications sector has committed to a net-zero emissions target for 2050; as such, renewable energy (RE) has been identified as a sustainable means to reduce emissions while promoting energy security. Research has identified employees as key intermediaries in accelerating sustainability transitions; however, the literature is limited in strategies to enhance employees' competence in accelerating these transitions. Therefore, this study explored how employee psychological empowerment can be implemented to accelerate the sustainability transition to RE in South Africa’s (SA) telecommunications sector. A qualitative and exploratory research design was employed, and 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted with non-executive employees across various telecommunications firms. Thematic analysis revealed key psychological empowerment practices, such as training, rewards, and participation, which enhance employees' abilities, motivation, and engagement. However, the findings also revealed barriers to implementation, including limited consultation and general misalignment. Therefore, this study proposed an integrated framework that recommends how the identified empowerment practices can be implemented effectively to overcome organisational and social barriers. The findings provide telecommunications practitioners in SA with insights into implementing psychological empowerment to enhance employees' competence, thereby accelerating sustainability transitions to RE.