African management: concept, content and usability

Seny Kan, K.A., Apitsa, S.M. & Adegbite, E. (2015), "African management: concept, content and usability", Society and Business Review, Vol.10 (3), pp. 258-279

27 Pages Posted: 27 Jan 2020

See all articles by Konan Seny Kan

Konan Seny Kan

University of Otago ; University of Otago

S. M. Apitsa

Independent

Emmanuel Adegbite

University of Nottingham

Date Written: 2015

Abstract

Purpose – While management research in African context is all but invisible in management literature, the notion of "African management" emerges through a piecemeal corpus of literature that has arisen in response to the exclusion and marginalisation of Africa in the broad field of management literature. The idea underlying this reasoning is that the Western management model prevailing so far in Africa is inadequate because of cultural considerations. However, what is meant by “African management” still remains unfamiliar to both researchers and practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct a selective review of the fragmented “African management” literature to identify directions it follows. This is carried out through an analytical framework aiming at investigate the usability of the "African management".
Findings – The paper identifies the key elements underlying the “African management” narrative. It also articulates these elements within a frame which represents an unprecedented attempt to render advocacy of “African management” more insightful.

Originality/value – The vibrant economic trends of Africa and its forthcoming dynamics are on the spotlight. At the same time, this upturn raises again a central concern about African societies’ development in which organisations are expected to play a pivotal role. Yet the paucity and fragmented nature of the current state of "African management" research do not enable either practitioners or academics to get a deep understanding of African organisations. This article constitutes a major contribution by setting up a scheme of identifying convincingly the analytical parameters that really count in African organisations.

Suggested Citation

Seny Kan, Konan Anderson and Seny Kan, Konan Anderson and Apitsa, S. M. and Adegbite, Emmanuel, African management: concept, content and usability (2015). Seny Kan, K.A., Apitsa, S.M. & Adegbite, E. (2015), "African management: concept, content and usability", Society and Business Review, Vol.10 (3), pp. 258-279, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3512801 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3512801

Konan Anderson Seny Kan

University of Otago ( email )

60 Clyde St, North Dunedin
Dunedin 9016
Dunedin, Otago 9016
New Zealand

University of Otago ( email )

PO Box 56
Dunedin, 9054
New Zealand

S. M. Apitsa

Independent

Emmanuel Adegbite (Contact Author)

University of Nottingham ( email )

University Park
Nottingham, NG8 1BB
United Kingdom

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
208
Abstract Views
956
Rank
265,126
PlumX Metrics