Distinguished Lecture Series – Theorising About the African Context in Business and Management

Existing business and management theories have largely been developed to fit Western market environment conditions. While these theories are often treated as universal, they do not always reflect the realities of African economies and societies. Africa, despite its size, diversity, and growing economic importance, remains underrepresented in global business and management theory.

“Theorising About the African Context in Business and Management” focuses on addressing this gap. It emphasizes the need to build theories that are grounded in African realities. This topic is important because:

• Many existing theories do not fully work in African contexts, leading to poor business decisions and policy failures
• Africa’s rapid growth, innovation, and integration (e.g., AfCFTA) demand context-relevant knowledge
• Indigenous systems and philosophies (such as Ubuntu) offer valuable insights that are often overlooked

It is also timely because:

• There is a growing call to rethink and decolonize knowledge production
• African scholars and practitioners are increasingly contributing to global research output and it is important their voices are shared with the rest of the world
• Businesses and policymakers need solutions that reflect local realities

Presentation Outline

The presentation will:

• Highlight the limitations of Western-centric theories when applied in African settings
• Explain the unique features of African business environments
• Introduce indigenous frameworks such as Ubuntu and other African knowledge systems
• Present practical pathways for theory development from an African context
• Discuss research approaches and methods suitable for African contexts

What Participants Will Gain

By the end of the session, participants will:

• Explain why many global business theories do not fully apply in African contexts
• Gain insight into the unique characteristics shaping business in Africa
• Learn about how to critically assess and adapt existing theories
• Develop the ability to build or contribute to African-centered theories
• Be exposed to practical research methods suited for African environments
• Appreciate the value of indigenous knowledge systems in management practice

About Speaker

Professor Nathaniel Boso is a professor of international business and entrepreneurship at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana) and University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (South Africa). He is also the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chair of Entrepreneurship and Employability, and the founding director of the Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in Supply Chains – Africa (CARISCA). He was previously Dean at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Business, and an Associate Professor at University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. Prof. Boso is a consulting editor at Journal of International Business Studies, a senior editor at International Business Review, and an associate editor at International Marketing Review and African Journal of Management. His research has published in some of the most elite international academic journals in the world including Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of World Business, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Journal of International Marketing, and International Journal of Production Economics. He received his Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship and Industrial Marketing from Loughborough University in the UK.