Workshop: Building and Defending African Context Specific Theory in Business and Management Research

In business and management research, Africa has often been treated as a site for applying Western theories rather than developing its own. For African scholars, there is a growing imperative not only to produce knowledge but to anchor that knowledge in the unique realities of the continent.

Africa has too often been treated as merely a setting for applying Western theories. But its distinctive institutional environments, informal economies, and indigenous practices call for a shift from theory application to theory building.

Constructing African context-specific theory means developing frameworks that are grounded in African realities frameworks that reflect how firms innovate, lead, and succeed amid deep complexity and limited resources. Defending these theories is equally vital: it ensures that they are recognized and respected in global academic discourse, helping to rebalance the dominance of Western perspectives.

Africa is not just a backdrop for research. It is a rich, underutilized source of theory. Grounding your research in African contexts enables you to generate insights that are locally relevant and globally significant.

This session will be led by Nathaniel Boso, PhD, a leading African scholar whose work has shaped global conversations in international business and marketing. Boso will discuss how to build theory that captures the African business experience and how to defend that theory in journals, conferences, and global academic forums.

The training will cover:

• Understand the importance of contextualizing business and management research in Africa.
• Learn practical frameworks for developing Africa-centered theories.
• Gain strategies to defend and publish Africa-focused research.
• Connect with a network of scholars and practitioners passionate about African knowledge creation.
• Be empowered to challenge dominant narratives and contribute original, globally relevant research questions.
  

By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped to move from applying external theories to actively building and championing African knowledge for Africa and the world.

This is a hybrid event. In-person seats are limited. Register to secure your spot. In-person: KNUST Accra Office, KNUST Guest House, Osu || Virtually via Zoom.

About the speaker:

Nathaniel Boso is a globally recognized scholar whose research focuses on the intersection of international entrepreneurship, industrial marketing, and supply chain strategy. His work has appeared in top journals such as the Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of International Business Studies, and the International Journal of Production Economics.

Boso has received numerous international accolades for his scholarship. In 2021, his article “(How) Does Africa Matter for International Business Scholarship?” won the Academy of International Business Insight Outstanding Article Award. In 2019, he authored the Journal of International Marketing article recognized for making the most significant contribution to the field that year.

He currently serves as the OR Tambo Africa Research Chair and director of CARISCA. He also holds academic appointments at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and Strathmore University in Kenya.