Critical perspectives on international business in Africa

South African Journal of International Affairs, 2016

Research Papers in Economics, 2021

This book presents insights from cutting-edge international business and management research relating to Africa. Economic growth and foreign investment in the region remains strong, despite some slowing down in recent years. This trend of economic growth and its impact on international trade and FDI has attracted Western businesses, eager to capitalize on this emerging market. In this context, new relationships and interactions have stimulated business research on Africa. Split into four parts covering the internationalization process, international logistics, trans-border corporate social responsibility and trust in Africa, the book covers a range of emerging trends, academic discussion and evolving issues across the spectrum of business research. It is a valuable read for students, researchers and practitioners interested in doing business in Africa.

Thunderbird International Business Review, 2012

Sunday Observer, 2019

The improvement in the global economy, following the financial crisis of 2008-2009, provided an opportunity for countries to develop new policies towards addressing long-term issues, such as low economic growth, inequality, economic diversification, and also for identifying and making solutions for deep-rooted barriers to development.

South African Journal of International Affairs, 2017

Journal of International Business and Law, 2004

This chapter is grounded in the theoretical understanding that knowledge provides the foundation for innovation within fi rms and industries and propels economic growth. Furthermore, the amount and value of the learning that takes place within and between fi rms locally and in cross- border collaborative engagements depends on the dominant characteristics of the national and regional systems of knowledge management and innovation. The chapter therefore seeks to shed light on how individual and fi rm- level characteristics, as well as the institutional and cultural contexts of collaboration, infl uence the learning and absorptive capacities of the fi rms engaged in the collaborative processes in African economies. These considerations are illustrated with some evidence from collaborations between Ghanaian and Danish fi rms. The discussions provide basis for additional research into interfi rm relations within the African context.

There has been a marked increase in the internationalization activities of African firms over the last two decades or so, resulting in the emergence of regional challenger firms that are aggressively competing with foreign multinationals in terrains historically dominated by the latter. However, our understanding of this phenomenon is limited, as empirical research examining the nature of internationalization of African firms is scarce, and research directly investigating drivers, outcomes, and boundary conditions of the internationalization of African firms is lacking. The goal of this special issue, therefore, is to contribute to the scholarly understanding of the increasingly prevalent internationalization of African firms. This guest editorial provides a summary of the six articles in this special issue, and highlights three broad thematic issues: internationalization opportunities for African firms (accelerated private-sector development and regional integration, and ability to overcome institutional voids); internationalization challenges (global competitiveness challenges, limited management and cross-cultural capabilities, and overcoming the liability of Africanness); and internationalization risks (losing focus on home markets and over-internationalization).

The Journal of Modern African Studies, 1999

The failure of structural adjustment programmes to promote industrialisation in Africa may be at least partly explained by the fragmentation of African business systems. In Africa, the parastatal, foreign-dominated formal and indigenous informal sectors are poorly integrated, largely as a result of the institutional environment in which they have developed. The lack of supportive financial, state and social institutions inhibits trust and accountability, and impedes the access to capital, labour market flexibility, and sub-contracting, which are needed for modern industrial development. More research is needed, both detailed studies of business systems in individual African countries, and cross-country comparisons of the linkages between the economy and the wider social and institutional environment.

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2018

This concluding piece to the special issue outlines how nations and firms can capitalise on their resources and capabilities towards meeting the 21st century challenges of doing business in Africa. The paper outlines key requirements, including human capital formation, technology transfer, frugal innovation and learning from other nations. We also examine the mechanisms through which technology can be harnessed to help facilitate economic development and enhance Africa's competitiveness.