Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in Supply Chain - Africa

Workshop: Building and Defending African Context Specific Theory in Business and Management Research
2025-08-20 10:00 - 2025-08-21 15:00 UTC | CARISCA Accra Office
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.

Second annual Supply Chain Business Forum and Exhibition
2025-07-30 - 2025-07-31 | Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, Ghana
Business leaders and supply chain experts will gather July 30-31,2025, at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, for CARISCA’s second annual Supply Chain Business Forum and Exhibition. Over the two days, keynote speakers and panelists will lead discussions on the theme “Fueling Africa’s Growth: Supply Chain Innovation and Financing.”
The goal of the forum is to enhance supply chain management practices across the continent. The event is targeted to business and industry leaders and academics with strong business ties or who conduct applied research that can enhance supply chain management practices in Africa.
The inaugural event, held in July, attracted nearly 280 participants from six countries. Among attendees who completed a post-event survey, 94% said they would return next year.
The Business Forum will feature prominent entrepreneurs, business executives and academics as keynote speakers, panelists and session leaders. The event also will offer ample time for networking and exploring the exhibition space, where leading companies will showcase their products and services.
Attendees will gain abundant opportunities to learn about and discuss the best supply chain practices throughout Africa and how leading-edge university research can support African businesses.
Registration
Early-bird pricing for the 2025 Business Forum and Exhibition is available until April 30. Groups of five or more from the same company can receive a discount on registration. Seats are limited, and we expect the event to sell out quickly.
Registration is limited to in-person attendees. While most CARISCA events are hybrid, the Business Forum is an exception so that participants and sponsors gain full advantage from the exhibition space and networking opportunities.
To register for the event or learn more about becoming a sponsor or exhibitor, visit cariscabusinessforum.com.

2025 Supply Chain Research Summit
2025-07-16 - 2025-07-18 | Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja
The summit is central to CARISCA’s goal to integrate Africa’s supply chain research into mainstream research and strengthen African supply chain capacity. It is the largest academic supply chain conference on the continent.
This year we are moving the event from Ghana to Nigeria, Africa’s most-populated country. This move will further CARISCA’s vision of becoming a pan-African hub for supply chain education, research and practice.
The summit is set for July 16-18, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria. As in previous years, the 2025 Summit will be a hybrid event. The in-person venue is the Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja. Virtual attendees will participate via Zoom.
Presentations will revolve around the theme “Reimagining Africa’s Supply Chains for a Sustainable Future.”
Registration for the summit will open soon! We encourage you to sign up as soon as possible once it does—space is limited, and we anticipate spots will fill quickly.
“The summit is a can’t-miss event for supply chain management scholars from Africa and around the world,” says Dale Rogers, CARISCA’s executive director. “In only a few years, it has become the place where new research ideas relevant to Africa are developed and presented.”
Learn more: summit2025.carisca.org

Writing a High-Impact Journal Article from Your Thesis or Dissertation
2025-06-23 15:00 - 17:00
Producing a strong doctoral thesis is a major achievement, but transforming it into a publishable journal article requires a different approach. Journals look for concise narratives, clear contributions, and crisp positioning within the literature. Without careful reframing, even the most rigorous dissertations can struggle to find a home in top‑tier outlets.
In this CARISCA training on June 23, Prof. Nathaniel Boso will guide you through the process of reshaping your thesis or dissertation into a compelling journal manuscript. Drawing on his extensive publication record and editorial insights, he will show you how to highlight your key findings, sharpen your story, and meet the expectations of journal editors and reviewers.
What you will learn:

How to distill a lengthy thesis into a focused article that emphasizes originality and theoretical contribution
Strategies for crafting an engaging introduction and literature review that position your work at the frontiers of the field
Techniques for presenting methodology and results in a way that aligns with journal conventions
Tips for responding effectively to reviewer feedback and navigating the submission process
Best practices for selecting the right target journals and tailoring your paper to their audiences
This free online workshop is open to all doctoral students and early‑career researchers who want to turn their dissertations into published papers.

About the speaker:
Prof. Nathaniel Boso is an award-winning scholar whose research appears in leading outlets such as the Journal of Business Venturing and Journal of International Business Studies. He serves as Director of CARISCA and holds the OR Tambo Africa Research Chair. He is Extraordinary Professor of International Business at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and Visiting Professor at Strathmore University in Kenya. His combined experience as author, editor, and reviewer gives him unique insights into what distinguishes a high‑impact journal article.

From Research to Impact: The Art of Academic Storytelling
2025-05-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Online Platform – Zoom, Ghana
Conducting high-quality research is only the first step for any academic who wishes to advance knowledge and make an impact in his or her field.
The ability to effectively communicate your research findings is a critical skill. It can mean the difference between producing research that just sits on a shelf and research that drives real-world change.
Journal editors and conference audiences alike expect researchers to be able to explain their work in a clear, concise manner. The best way to do that is to develop a storyline that ties the research together.
Successful papers in the modern era usually always tell an interesting story. Being able to present your research clearly through a story helps you convey its impact to audiences that likely do not have the same understanding of the topic as you do.
Every presentation is an opportunity to hone your storytelling skills.
Learn the art of academic storytelling at our May 22 CARISCA Training. In this session, the facilitator, Dominic Essuman, PhD, will discuss how storytelling is more than a nice-to-have. It’s an essential skill for researchers committed to making a tangible impact with their work.
The presentation will cover how to present your research story as well as tactical elements such as what to put on PowerPoint slides or the whiteboard in a classroom. Attendees will take away strategies and tactics to ensure your research not only informs but also leaves a lasting impression and drives meaningful change.
This free online session is open to all, but researchers who will present papers at the 2025 Supply Chain Research Summit are especially urged to attend.
About the speaker:
Dominic Essuman is a lecturer in sustainable management at the University of Shefﬁeld, United Kingdom. His research interests revolve around supply chain strategy, resilience and sustainability.
His research has been published in top-tier academic journals, including the International Journal of Production Economics, Journal of International Business Studies and Journal of Business Logistics. In December 2023, Essuman co-led a popular CARISCA Training on “Defending Your Thesis at Viva,” during which he outlined how to design and deliver an effective research presentation.

Research Capacity-Building Workshop
2025-04-16 - 2025-04-17
On April 16-17, CARISCA will host its first faculty workshop for 2025, held online via Zoom. Faculty workshops focus on strengthening the research capacity of faculty and graduate students at KNUST and other higher education institutions in Africa.
These workshops aim to equip faculty with innovative tools to better understand the complexities of global supply chains and identify opportunities to enhance their efficiency. The upcoming session in January will focus on using textual data in supply chain management research.
While supply chain studies often prioritize quantitative data for theory testing and development, this workshop will emphasize the insights and perspectives that qualitative, text-based data can provide.
Arizona State University Professor Kevin J. Dooley will lead the workshop. He will guide participants in exploring the use of textual data and demonstrate how it can enhance research by uncovering insights beyond traditional approaches.
The first day of the workshop will feature a presentation on how to apply textual data and sources in operations and supply chain management research. On the second day, participants will apply the concepts learned the day before.
About the speaker:
Kevin J. Dooley is a Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. He also is chief scientist of The Sustainability Consortium, where he works with a global research team and industry to make consumer products more sustainable.
In addition, Dooley serves as co-director of the Complex Adaptive Supply Networks Research Accelerator and senior global futures scientist in the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory.
He has published more than 100 research articles and provided training or consultation for over 200 companies in the areas of sustainability, supply chain management, quality, and technology and innovation.
Dooley has received numerous accolades, including the Academy of Management’s Distinguished Scholar Award and the W.P. Carey Dean’s Distinguished Career Research Award.

Distinguished Lecture Series
2025-04-02 14:30 - 16:00
Distinguished Lecture Series – Digital Supply Chain and Business Model Innovations: Observations from China
Join us on April 2 for the next event in our Distinguished Lecture Series.

Digitalization is one of the most important features of today’s supply chain management.
Many companies today are using advanced digital technologies like 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and Big Data Analytics to improve their supply chains. These technologies help businesses connect different parts of their supply chain, make smarter decisions, and optimize operations.
In this distinguished lecture, Professor Zhao will explore the connection between supply chain innovation and business model transformation. He will examine the forces driving supply chain digitalization and its role in shaping global competitive advantages.
The session will also explore emerging research opportunities, based on his extensive work with companies across multiple sectors.
About the Speaker
Professor Xiande Zhao is the JD.com Chair Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management and Director of the CEIBS Institute of Supply Chain Innovations. He has been consistently recognized as one of Elsevier’s “Most Cited Chinese Scholars” and is listed among Stanford University’s “Global Top 2% Scientists 2024.”
Professor Zhao is a Fellow of both the Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) and the Association of Supply Chain and Operations Management (ASCOM). He has also received the CEIBS Medal for Research Excellence and the CEIBS 30th Anniversary Outstanding Faculty Contribution Award.
He specializes in supply chain integration, digital supply chains, business model innovation, and supply chain finance. He collaborates extensively with industry partners, developing case studies, innovative teaching programs, and publishing in top-tier journals. Professor Zhao has provided training and consulting for companies including JD.com, Haier, CATL, SAIC Volkswagen, COFCO, China Construction Bank, China Mobile, DHL, Japan Airlines, GSK, and others.

From Research to Impact: The Art of Academic Storytelling
2025-02-13
Conducting high-quality research is only the first step for any academic who wishes to advance knowledge and make an impact in his or her field.
The ability to effectively communicate your research findings is a critical skill. It can mean the difference between producing research that just sits on a shelf and research that drives real-world change.
Journal editors and conference audiences alike expect researchers to be able to explain their work in a clear, concise manner. The best way to do that is to develop a storyline that ties the research together.
Successful papers in the modern era usually always tell an interesting story. Being able to present your research clearly through a story helps you convey its impact to audiences that likely do not have the same understanding of the topic as you do.
Every presentation is an opportunity to hone your storytelling skills.
Learn the art of academic storytelling at our Feb. 13 CARISCA Training. In this session, experienced researchers from Ghana, the U.S. and the U.K. will discuss how storytelling is more than a nice-to-have. It’s an essential skill for researchers committed to making a tangible impact with their work.
The presentation will cover how to present your research story as well as tactical elements such as what to put on PowerPoint slides or on the whiteboard in a classroom. Attendees will take away strategies and tactics to ensure your research not only informs but also leaves a lasting impression and drives meaningful change.
This free online session is open to all, but researchers who will present papers at the 2025 Supply Chain Research Summit are especially urged to attend.
About the speakers:

Felicity Asiedu-Appiah is an associate professor of management and human resource management at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. She has over 19 years of academic experience and specializes in teaching and coaching students and professionals to deliver impactful presentations with clarity and confidence.
She has presented her research on topics like work-life intersections and leadership both locally and internationally. Beyond academia, she provides training and consulting on emotional intelligence, career planning and work-life intersections. She also is technical consultant for the KNUST School of Business Career Services Office.

Dominic Essuman is a lecturer in sustainable management at the University of Shefﬁeld, United Kingdom. His research interests revolve around supply chain strategy, resilience and sustainability.
His research has been published in top-tier academic journals, including the International Journal of Production Economics, Journal of International Business Studies and Journal of Business Logistics. In December 2023, Essuman co-led a popular CARISCA Training on “Defending Your Thesis at Viva,” during which he outlined how to design and deliver an effective research presentation.

Dale Rogers is CARISCA’s executive director and principal investigator and the ON Semiconductor Professor of Business at Arizona State University. A member of the Supply Chain Hall of Fame, he is a leading researcher in the fields of reverse logistics, sustainable supply chain management, supply chain finance and secondary markets.
Rogers has published in the field’s leading journals and made more than 400 presentations to professional organizations. An internationally known storyteller, he is a frequent keynote speaker at academic and industry conferences and interview subject for major media outlets around the globe.

Artificial Intelligence for Nudging Complex Supply Networks
2025-01-22
Artificial intelligence has quickly transitioned from a concept in science fiction to an integral part of our daily lives. It has become an innovative tool across various industries, powering everything from the algorithms behind our favorite applications to the predictive models that optimize global logistics.
At the next event in our Distinguished Lecture Series, Alexandra Brintrup, a professor at the University of Cambridge, will discuss the role of artificial intelligence in operations and supply chain management. She will address the current state of affairs and the major driving forces shaping supply chains today.
Brintrup will introduce AI with multiple definitions, to cover what is AI and, importantly, what is not. She will introduce subfields of AI and data science and how they are primarily used in supply chain management. She will then delve deeper into an “exotic” selection of supply chain AI, to emphasize that which could not have been done before.
The lecture will also include state-of-the-art research examples in network analytics, digital supply chain surveillance, collective learning and distributed decision-making automation. Brintrup’s aim is to encourage debate on how AI should be evaluated by breaking disciplinary silos in the operations management community.
Lecture participants will also gain valuable insights into potential pitfalls and challenges associated with AI, including loss of data traceability, complacency, lack of accountability and cognitive atrophy.
About the speaker:
Alexandra Brintrup is a professor of digital manufacturing at the University of Cambridge, where she leads the Supply Chain AI Lab. She also leads digital manufacturing at the Alan Turing Institute, is external faculty at the Complexity Science Hub Vienna and a fellow of Darwin College.
A pioneer in studying large-scale supply chains as complex adaptive networks, her research has led to understanding of universal patterns that govern supply chains. She was first to develop algorithms to predict supply chain dependencies and disruptions.
Over the past decade she has advised policymakers as well as national and European scientific committees. She also has worked with startups, small- and medium-sized enterprises and international organizations.

Beyond Disruption: Leveraging Strategic Foresight for Resilient Supply Chains
2024-11-20 17:00 - 18:30
In today’s rapidly changing global environment, supply chains are increasingl exposed to a wide range of disruptions. These include geopolitical conflicts, technological advances, environmental crises and shifting economic conditions.
Traditional approaches to supply chain management often struggle to keep up with these dynamic challenges, leaving organizations vulnerable. To move beyond disruption, strategic foresight becomes an important arsenal. It enables a forward-thinking approach for building resilience and navigating potential risks in the operating environment.
On Nov. 20, University of Pretoria faculty member Faith Mashele will present on this topic as part of CARISCA’s Distinguished Lecture Series. She will explore how organizations can leverage business tools and frameworks to assess external influences, prioritize risks and implement adaptive strategies.
The session will also cover the fundamental building blocks for evaluating supply chain context, empowering organizations to better understand and navigate dynamics in the operating environment.
Using examples from practice, participants will gain insights on strategic foresights and a toolkit for building resilience and anticipating future disruptions within the supply chain environment.
About the speaker:
Faith Mashele teaches in the areas of sustainable supply chains and operations management at the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science. She also is a fellow of the school’s Centre for African Management and Markets.
In addition to her academic career, she has extensive corporate experience. Mashele has held diverse roles in both the public and private sector, spanning the banking, consulting, development finance, education and information technology industries.
Known as a procurement ninja, she has been widely recognized as one of the leading women in the field. She is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) and former head of the Procurement Centre of Excellence for Nedbank.

Medical and Humanitarian Logistics in Disaster Settings: Preparedness and Response
2024-09-11 17:00 - 18:30
Every year over the past two decades, approximately 350 to 450 natural disasters have struck around the globe. Each of these events causes an economic loss of at least $50 million, an insured loss of $25 million, 10 or more fatalities, 50 injuries, or damage to a minimum of 2,000 structures. In 2023, Africa, Europe and the Middle East experienced the highest number of disasters. [Source]
The perennial occurrence of disasters in various forms and their consequent destruction to lives and properties highlight the critical role of medical and humanitarian logistics. Logisticians in medical and humanitarian fields ensure the availability and timely delivery of essential medicines and equipment and support rapid response and relief efforts.
Lt. Col. Solomon Ocran, who will speak on Sept. 11 as part of our Distinguished Lecture Series, has been practising in the field of medical and humanitarian logistics for 15 years. He has served as a pharmacist and medical logistics officer at hospitals in Ghana as well as Chad, Congo, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Liberia and South Sudan.
In his lecture, Ocran will talk about how medical and humanitarian logistics are essential for ensuring that health care systems are prepared to respond to emergencies. Managing the availability of pharmaceuticals; medical/surgical supplies, devices and equipment; consumables and other products plays a critical role in preparedness and response when disasters strike.
About the Speaker
Lt. Col. Solomon Ocran is the officer-in-charge of the Medical Stores and Equipment Depot of the Ghana Armed Forces. He leads a team of 75 staff including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, procurement officers, supply officers and medical stores men. The facility he leads is involved in medical logistics procurement, warehousing and distribution.
Previously, Ocran was deputy chief pharmacist for the Ghana Armed Forces. He has over 20 years of experience as a pharmacist managing medical commodities both locally and abroad.
Ocran also is a facilitator in the course Logistics Support in Peace-Keeping Operations (Medical) at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre. He holds an MBA in health services administration and an MSc in logistics and supply chain management, the latter from KNUST.

CARISCA Training Series - Striving for Generalizability: An Introduction to Meta-Analysis
2024-08-30 16:00 - 18:00
Generalizability—the applicability of research findings to a larger population than those in the study—is critical for researchers who wish to make an impact. One approach to consider is meta-analysis.
A subset of systematic literature reviews, meta-analysis combines data from numerous sources. Thus it allows researchers to draw more generalizable conclusions than would be possible from individual studies alone.
On Aug. 30, the CARISCA Training Series returns with a session on meta-analysis led by Rudi Leuschner, associate professor of supply chain management at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Leuschner has been the lead author of three meta-analysis studies published in the Journal of Supply Chain Management.
While already widespread in certain disciplines, the use of meta-analysis is now growing within supply chain management. With an increasing number of studies being published across multiple topics, this tool enables the field to guide future research.
It also enhances the credibility of research outcomes and facilitates the translation of research findings into practical applications. Lastly, meta-analysis aids in advancing scientific knowledge by highlighting gaps in research and guiding future investigation.
The CARISCA Training will cover key concepts, methodology and strategies used in meta-analytical research. Participants will gain an understanding of how this methodology can be used to create a systematic quantitative summary of existing research in supply chain management.
Specifically, participants will review the overall logic of meta-analytic studies, sample selection, meta-analytic calculations and insights drawn from meta-analytic studies.
About the speaker:
Rudi Leuschner is an associate professor of supply chain management at Rutgers Business School and program director for the online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program. He is at the forefront of online education as the faculty coordinator for distance and online learning and the creator of the supply chain management MOOC specialization.
Leuschner’s research focuses on the end-to-end supply chain and the integration of its three primary flows: products, information and finances. Specifically, in the new field of supply chain finance, he has been active in developing relevant insights for academic and practitioner audiences.
He co-developed the Rutgers Business School Payment Practices Index, which ranks retailers’ performance. His work has appeared in many top-ranked journals, and he has been a frequent speaker at academic as well as practitioner conferences.

Continuing Professional Development Course
2024-08-28 - 2024-08-29
Register: https://carisca.knust.edu.gh/training/cpd/
Join CARISCA’s two-day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course on Supply Chain Analytics, co-hosted with Lagos State University, Nigeria.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and network with industry peers.

Course Details

Course: Supply Chain Analytics
Date: August 28-29, 2024
Time: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. GMT ||9 a.m. – 3 p.m. WAT each day
Venue: Online via Zoom
Course Objectives

This workshop will build the capacity of supply chain practitioners and service providers in Sub-Saharan Africa, in both the public and private sectors, to use big data to support supply chain management decisions.
In this workshop, you will apply various techniques to analyze, model and visualize several aspects of operations, procurement, logistics and supply chain. Additionally, you will model various supply chain analytics on dashboards to solve industry-related problems, using tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Python and R Studio.
Register: https://carisca.knust.edu.gh/training/cpd/

Systematic Literature Reviews: the Who, How, What, Why and When
2024-08-16 15:30 - 17:00
Register Now
A systematic literature review is one of many research methods available to academic scholars. It involves identifying and evaluating relevant literature on a selected topic of study.
Unlike a common literature review conducted for projects employing other research approaches, a systematic literature review is an independent research method. It is a reproducible and empirically valid approach to understanding patterns, findings and potential gaps in knowledge.
On Aug. 16, Arizona State University Professor Craig Carter will lead a virtual workshop, part of the CARISCA Training Series, on how to conduct systematic literature reviews.
His presentation will cover the who, how, what, why and when of the topic. Carter will describe a step-by-step approach to the methodology, suggest guidelines and work through an actual example.
This presentation will serve as a foundation for a second training workshop on Aug. 30, on meta-analysis, a subset of systematic literature reviews. At the Aug. 16 training, Carter will suggest guidelines that will help researchers understand how to conduct meta-analyses—a methodologically rigorous, and possible more interesting, literature review.
About the speaker:
Craig R. Carter is the John G. and Barbara A. Bebbling Professor of Supply Chain Management at Arizona State University. He also directs the SCM Behavioral Lab and is a Fearon Fellow at CAPS Research.
Carter’s primary research stream focuses on sustainable supply chain management. A second area of research examines behavioral decision-making phenomena within supply management contexts.
He also is interested in analyzing the status and evolution of research in the supply chain management discipline. He provides guidance and thought leadership regarding future research directions.
His research has appeared in the leading supply chain management journals, including the Journal of Business Logistics, Journal of Operations Management and Journal of Supply Chain Management. Carter is editor emeritus and an advising editor for the Journal of Supply Chain Management, a senior editor for the Journal of Business Logistics, and an associate editor for the Journal of Operations Management and the Decision Sciences Journal.

Supply Chain Business Forum and Exhibition
2024-07-29 - 2024-07-30
Industry and academia will come together to share insights, trends and perspectives during CARISCA’s inaugural Business Forum and Exhibition set for July 29-30 in Accra, Ghana. The goal is to enhance supply chain efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness across Africa.
The event will feature two days of presentations and panel discussions on the theme “Navigating the Future of Supply Chains in Africa.” The schedule also will provide plenty of time for networking and exploring the exhibition space, where leading businesses and entrepreneurs will showcase their products and services.

Learn more and register: https://carisca.knust.edu.gh/businessforumevent/

Distinguished Lecture Series
2024-07-18
Thursday, July 18
Distinguished Lecture Series
“The Role of Mobile Resources in Access to Healthcare in Underserved Communities”
Register Now
One of the great challenges in modern healthcare is how to improve access to health services and medications in remote and underserved communities. Major barriers include financial viability, availability of personnel and transportation.
In particular, capital investment in permanent facilities and equipment can be infeasible due to the cost per person. It can be difficult to find medical professionals to provide full-time care to these communities. And bringing healthcare to remote/rural communities often requires covering large geographic areas that have less-than-desirable infrastructure.
At the next event in our Distinguished Lecture Series, Jonathan Helm from Indiana University will discuss these challenges and potential solutions that lie at the intersection of supply chain management, operations management and analytics. His focus will be on mobile healthcare resources.
These resources can provide services that rotate between multiple underserved communities and deliver medications in a more cost-effective manner. Mobile resources reduce the financial and logistical burden while providing much higher access to care for residents of these regions that have historically been lacking.
Helm will also highlight some of the data challenges in developing analytics in rural, remote and underserved regions. He will draw upon several research projects in the U.S. and Africa to highlight specific challenges.
Examples include projects to reach rural veterans in the U.S., deliver malaria medication in Malawi, address maternal mortality in remote and rural communities in Botswana, and prevent and treat addiction in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
About the speaker:
Jonathan Helm is a professor in the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and W.W. Grainger Inc. Faculty Fellow. His research has been broadly implemented in the healthcare industry and published in top-ranked business, medical, analytics and healthcare engineering journals.
He has won upwards of 20 international research awards. In 2024, he won first place in the Innovative Application of Analytics Awards for a project that combines human expertise and machine learning to battle the nursing- shortage crisis.

Creating and Implementing Policy Changes Across Supply Chains
2024-07-11
Supply chain is often part of the solution to global challenges. But managing supply chain policies and practices is an ever-evolving exercise. And knowing what changes to make and when can be difficult.
At our July 11 Inclusion in Supply Chain Training and Networking event, four women leaders will share their experiences implementing policy changes at their workplaces. Their stories will highlight policies that facilitate access and inclusion of underrepresented groups, including women, those with disabilities and compelled laborers.
The presenters will provide insights into their professional journeys spanning the higher education, entrepreneurial, government and agribusiness sectors. A representative from the Mastercard Foundation also will speak about Mastercard’s persons-with-disability policy at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
The objectives of the event are threefold:

providing insight on how policy changes are implemented on multiple levels;
showcasing successful stories of women and underrepresented groups leading in supply chain initiatives, and
creating a platform for like-minded individuals to connect, collaborate and exchange ideas.

About the speakers:

Wafaa Ahmed is an assistant professor of information systems at Nottingham University in the U.K. She has worked with leading organizations to investigate the use of blockchain technology in the mining, automotive, textile and logistics sectors. She also has expertise in supply chain management, digital transformation and project management.

Catherine Kangangi is deputy director of supply chain management for the Kenya Rural Roads Authority. She also serves as a consultant to the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) and a council member of the Professional Standards Committee of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).

Tutuwa Mamphey is the founder and CEO of Nokware Skincare. After starting a career in finance, she founded the business in her father’s kitchen and now has a dedicated factory space with a full-time workforce of 12 women. The company is founded on the values of local sourcing, women’s empowerment, inclusive beauty and sustainable packaging.

Jennifer Monny is director of supply chain and procurement for Koa Switzerland and Ghana, which produces and sells fresh cocoa fruit juice and pulp. In that role, she has helped drive sustainability and innovation in the cocoa industry. A recent KNUST PhD graduate, Monny’s research interests lie in agri-food supply chains, green supply chain innovations, gender balance and sustainability.

Faculty Workshop
2024-06-19 - 2024-06-20
Wednesday-Thursday, June 19-20
Faculty Workshop
Computational Modeling

2024 Supply Chain Research Summit
2024-06-04 - 2024-06-06
On June 4-6, 2024, CARISCA will host the fourth annual Supply Chain Research Summit, in Accra, Ghana. The 2023 summit in Accra, Ghana, attracted 688 participants from 41 countries and featured more than 90 presenters.
The conference brings together academic and non-academic researchers and public, private and civil society organizations to create an ongoing dialogue addressing complex supply chain challenges. This year’s summit will once again adopt a hybrid model, allowing for both in-person and virtual attendance
The in-person venue is the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra. Attendees and speakers may also participate virtually via Zoom.
The summit will take an in-depth look at how to build resilience in Africa’s supply chains for economic transformation. Resilient supply chains are vital for the success of businesses and societies.
Given the frequent and costly supply chain disruptions in Africa, increased investment in supply chain resilience on the continent is a pressing need. Current proposals for addressing these issues are primarily at the macro level and often lack solid grounding in theory-validated frameworks.
Furthermore, while studies on the drivers of supply chain resilience are growing rapidly, research specific to African supply chains remains limited.
Addressing these supply chain resilience themes requires a forum such as the 2024 Supply Chain Research Summit. There, supply chain scholars will brainstorm and share ideas on how Africa’s supply chains can be repositioned to drive the continent’s economic transformation agenda.

2024 Pre-Conference Paper Development Workshop
2024-06-03
Selected faculty and senior doctoral candidates from higher education institutions (HEIs) in Africa will participate in a special Paper Development Workshop, a pre-conference session of our annual Supply Chain Research Summit.
The workshop will be held in person at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, June 3, 2024.
The number of seats for the program is limited. To be eligible, you must be a faculty or senior doctoral student in an African HEI, register for the conference, have a complete or near-complete research paper, and commit to attending the summit in person. The same paper may be submitted for presentation at the conference but does not have to be.
The goal of the Paper Development Workshop is to create a platform for faculty and senior doctoral candidates to meet with and seek professional advice from senior supply chain scholars on a specific academic research paper. It should be a paper you are currently working on that is at an advanced stage for submission or ready to be submitted to an academic journal.
Feedback will be provided in a safe environment. Participants will also be able to engage with senior colleagues in more focused discussions.
The workshop is fully supported by the Center for Applied Research and Innovation in Supply Chain – Africa (CARISCA); there is no cost to attendees. However, only applicants who have fully registered for and committed to attend the main summit in person will be considered.
Application Deadline:
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Questions?
Contact Kekeli Adonu at lkadonu@carisca.knust.edu.gh or Barby Grant at barby.grant@asu.edu

Apply for Paper Development Workshop

Distinguished Lecture Series - Nannette Atuahene
2024-05-22 17:00 - 18:30
Join us May 22 for the next event in our Distinguished Lecture Series. On Our Watch Global founder Nannette Atuahene will talk about “Building a Future-Ready Supply Chain Industry.”
5-6:30 p.m. GMT / 10-11:30 a.m. PDT and MST

Register Now

COVID laid bare the vulnerability of the supply chain industry, when the whole world virtually shut down. At the same time, a big disconnection was revealed among researchers, practitioners and policymakers with regard to supply chain issues.
The key to building a future-ready supply chain industry lies in the untapped potential that comes from creating synergy among these groups. That is the topic of the next event in our Distinguished Lecture Series, on Wednesday, May 22.
Nannette Atuahene, a leadership and organizational effectiveness consultant who splits her time between Ghana and the U.S., will deliver the lecture.
“When we are faced with many problems, many opportunities exist to solve them,” says Atuahene. “The question is, how do we set up effective and efficient communication systems between academia, industry and policymakers to bolster innovation, solutions and an upgraded supply chain industry?”
Her May 22 lecture will look at the challenges that currently exist in the supply chain industry, in academia, practice and policymaking. It will address how to overcome those challenges and the opportunities for practitioners, academia and policymakers to work together to move the supply chain industry forward.
Attendees will receive practical tips on how to create, obtain and utilize data and case studies to move your research and businesses forward. You also will learn how to create effective synergies among academia, practitioners and policymakers.
About the speaker:
Nannette Atuahene was born and raised in the United States to a mother and father who were from Kumasi, Ghana. As an adult, she splits the year between living in Ghana and California.
She is a real estate investor and broker and founder of On Our Watch Global, LLC, a leadership development and organizational effectiveness consultancy. She also contributes her time and expertise to the community, primarily by empowering youth on the streets of Ghana and working with several Ghanaian NGOs.

CPD - Supply Chain Analytics
2024-04-11 - 2024-04-12
Learn more: https://carisca.knust.edu.gh/training/cpd/
Given the importance of the supply chain to organizations across the globe, businesses are looking for opportunities to make processes faster, cheaper and easier as materials move from the point of origin to the point of consumption. Supply chains involve many different activities, people and organizations, which produce a vast amount of information.
This overwhelming amount of data has to be processed and converted into forms that influence key decisions and lead to better results. Supply chain analytics uses data analytical tools to manage and improve supply chain functions, such as demand planning, order processing and inventory control, and risk management.
Join CARISCA’s two-day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course on Supply Chain Analytics, co-hosted and accredited by the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM), Kenya.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and network with industry peers.

Learn more: https://carisca.knust.edu.gh/training/cpd/

Supply Chain Action Network Meeting
2024-04-08
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In today’s fast-paced global economy, the integration of data analytics and fintech into supply chain management represents a transformative leap forward. The urgency and necessity of this integration are underscored by the growing complexity of global supply chains, the need for inclusive economic growth, and the pressing demands of environmental sustainability.
As businesses strive to remain competitive, the role of fintech in enabling access to capital, particularly for marginalized or underrepresented groups, becomes crucial. Simultaneously, navigating the intricate regulatory environments and ensuring compliance, optimizing supplier performance, and managing expenditures without compromising on sustainability objectives are paramount challenges that demand innovative solutions.
On April 8, CARISCA will convene a Supply Chain Action Network (SCAN) meeting to shine a spotlight on harnessing these technologies to unlock unprecedented efficiency, enhance financial inclusion and promote sustainability within the supply chain ecosystem. This event serves as a crucial platform for stakeholders across the spectrum to collaborate on, learn and pioneer strategies that will define the future of supply chain management.
The full-day SCAN meeting will feature two keynote speakers, a panel discussion and breakout group sessions, with plenty of time for Q&A. The agenda also includes a lunch break and brief presentations on CARISCA, Strathmore University Business School and the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management, which are collaborating on the event.
The two keynote speakers, Maurice Mashiwa from Serano Africa and Vincent Omwenga from Strathmore University, will address the meeting topic through the lens of agriculture and healthcare, respectively. Panel discussions and breakout sessions will cover a number of sub-themes:
FinTech and AGPO Financial Inclusion: The crucial role of fintech companies in championing Affirmative Action for Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO).
Navigating Regulatory Environment and Compliance: Insights on utilizing data analytics for compliance with global standards, risk mitigation, and building stakeholder trust.
Supplier Performance and Spend Management: How to evaluate supplier performance and fine-tune expenditure management via sophisticated analytics.
Sustainability: How leveraging fintech and data analytics can support the monitoring and minimization of carbon emissions, promote ethical sourcing, and encourage sustainable consumption behaviors.
Through these focused discussions, the SCAN event aspires to arm participants with the insights and instruments required to adeptly navigate the complexities and seize the opportunities brought forth by the integration of data analytics and fintech into supply chain management.
The ultimate ambition is to cultivate a culture of innovation, inclusivity and sustainability that not only drives business success but also contributes significantly to the welfare of the wider community.

Distinguished Lecture Series - Research-based Innovation in Africa
2024-02-15
If Africa is to capture value from the global shift to a digital economy, research and innovation skills should take priority. Africa will never be able to compete in automation with the likes of the USA, U.K., China and India unless education and business succeed together.
If more scholars were to translate their research into business innovations, they could transform Africa, contends Marcia Mkansi, our Distinguished Lecture Series speaker for Feb. 15.
Universities are gold mines for local solutions. Mkansi says it is crucial that scholars re-imagine research beyond publication to include innovation.
It also is critical for researchers to extend their partnerships across the African continent, through projects at the local, national and continental level. Only in this way will sufficient knowledge, industrialization and learnings be gathered and shared.
Such partnerships are necessary for Africa’s economic diversification and resilience. The African Union Agenda 2063 aims to pursue inclusive growth and sustainable development within an integrated African continent.
In her lecture, Mkansi, a professor at the University of South Africa, will talk about optimizing research-based intellectual property to address sustainable development challenges.
Specific challenges she will discuss include green innovation and technology that supports well-being and sustainability. Her talk also will cover modeling and data development policy for economic and supply chain transformations toward sustainability.
About the speaker:
Marcia Mkansi is head of research, post-graduate studies, innovation and commercialization for the College of Economics and Management Sciences at the University of South Africa. She also is a prolific innovator, with a focus on societal research and human capital development.
In 2021, a mobile app she developed to track malaria drug stocks reached the semi-finals of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology global solver challenge.
The prior year, her Research Methods Index innovation earned second place in the European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies. The index helps graduate students select a best-fit research framework based on their attributes, philosophies and paradigms.
Also in 2020, she was named “Most Prolific Innovator Over the Past Five Years” at her university. She made six disclosures in that period, mostly for software-related innovations intended to improve supply and distribution networks.
Mkansi holds a PhD in supply chain management and electronic business from the University of Bolton in the U.K.

Defending Your Thesis at Viva - CARISCA Training Series
2023-12-08 16:00 - 18:00
A thesis defense is a pivotal moment for doctoral candidates. It carries immense significance and is often associated with anxiety and subpar performance.
But doctoral candidates must learn how to navigate this critical stage. A successful thesis defense not only signifies academic achievement but also prepares students for the challenges of academia and beyond.
In an increasingly competitive academic landscape, the ability to effectively present and defend one’s work is a critical skill that can greatly impact a researcher’s career trajectory.
This training will give doctoral candidates valuable insights, strategies and practical guidance for defending their research. It addresses the academic rigor as well as the psychological and interpersonal aspects of the defense.
The aim is to help candidates emerge from the experience with confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
The training covers three topics:

Designing an effective thesis presentation
Delivering a quality thesis presentation
Preparing for and managing the thesis Q&A session

About the facilitators:

Nathaniel Boso has taken the lead in designing and teaching PhD courses, supervising more than 20 PhD students and examining numerous PhD theses both in Ghana and internationally.
He holds the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chair of Entrepreneurship and Employability at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. He also is a professor of international marketing and strategy at KNUST and Extraordinary Professor at University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science in South Africa.
Boso’s research interests span international entrepreneurship, marketing and supply chain strategies. His work has appeared in such publications as Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of Product Innovation Management and Journal of World Business.
He sits on the editorial review board of International Marketing Review and Africa Journal of Management as an associate editor.

Dominic Essuman is a lecturer in sustainable management at the University of Shefﬁeld, United Kingdom. His research interests revolve around supply chain strategy, resilience and sustainability.
He boasts extensive experience in training, mentoring and supervising PhD students. Essuman has collaborated with Boso to teach PhD students in Ghana and Kenya.
Additionally, he has successfully supervised five doctoral, five MPhil, and 42 MBA/MSc theses. This involves preparing the students for their thesis defense and actively participating in the defenses.
Essuman also possesses expertise in various aspects of research development, manuscript writing and the publication process. He has presented his work both locally and internationally.
His research has been published in top-tier academic journals, including the International Journal of Production Economics, Journal of International Business Studies and Journal of Business Logistics.
He is a graduate of KNUST with a PhD in logistics and supply chain management.ing

Writing Business Cases With an African Context - CARISCA Training Series
2023-12-04 09:00 - 16:00
Cases are a great tool to use in class to teach difficult and complex supply chain issues. Supply chain problems are not generally solvable by simply applying an algorithm that provides answers to difficult questions or challenges.
Most published business cases have an American or European context and ignore the realities of Ghanaian and African supply chain managers. On Dec. 4, CARISCA Executive Director Dale S. Rogers will host an interactive workshop on developing and writing business cases with an African context, in person in Ghana.
Attendees will work together to actually produce cases that can be used in a supply chain course. The cases will cover a range of areas including product rollout, procurement, manufacturing, demand management, supply networks, logistics and other areas of interest to attendees.

About the presenter:

Dale S. Rogers is the ON Semiconductor Professor of Business at Arizona State University and a leading researcher in the fields of reverse logistics, sustainable supply chain management, supply chain finance and secondary markets.
He has authored four books, seven monographs, nearly 30 book chapters, six published cases and 50 refereed journal articles.
In addition to his faculty role, Rogers has extensive experience working with the business sector. He has made more than 400 presentations to professional organizations and taught in executive education programs in the United States, Africa, China, Europe and South America.
Rogers has been inducted into the Council of Supply Chain Management Hall of Fame and the Brazilian Supply Chain Hall of Fame. He also has received distinguished service awards from several industry groups for his impact on the field of supply chain management.

Partnership Coordination Committee meeting
2023-11-29
The Partnership Coordination Committee (PCC) coordinates CARISCA activities with partner organizations, stakeholders, and individuals. The goal is to create and sustain long-term relationships that support innovative practices to solve local, national and regional supply chain challenges in Africa. The Committee guides CARISCA leadership in exploring opportunities to advance CARISCA’s goals, and how to address key challenges facing CARISCA.
The next PCC meeting is scheduled for November 29, 2023.

Research Capacity-Building Workshop
2023-11-08 - 2023-11-09
Register: https://bit.ly/CARISCA-FW112023
Panel data, or longitudinal data, enables researchers to make observations across time for different groups, such as individuals, companies or countries. It has a number of advantages over other research methods.
Like time-series data, panel data includes observations collected at regular intervals, chronologically. An advantage of panel data over a single time series is that it can minimize estimation biases.
Like cross-sectional data, panel data contains observations across a collection of subjects. It also can detect and measure statistical effects that pure time series or cross-sectional data cannot.
Another advantage is that panel data contains more information, more variability and more efficiency than pure time series data or cross-sectional data.
Learn more about using panel data in supply chain management research by joining us Nov. 8 and 9 for a faculty workshop led by Sangho Chae, associate professor of operations management at Warwick Business School in England.
On the first day of the workshop, Chae will share potential sources of panel data for operations and supply chain management research. He also will explain how to identify other data sources and provide an example of how to extract data from these sources.
On the second day, participants will work in groups to identify sources of panel data for research questions they have suggested. Each group will then give a presentation on how they would go about accessing and utilizing those data sources to address the research question.
About the facilitator:
Sangho Chae joined the University of Warwick business faculty in August 2023. Previously, he held academic positions at Tilburg University and Marquette University. He earned his PhD in supply chain management from Arizona State University in 2017.
Chae’s research focuses on supply network structures and their implications for innovation, supply risk and sustainability. His research interests also include factors that bring changes to supply network structures.
He has been published in the Journal of Operations Management, Journal of Supply Chain Management and Journal of Business Logistics, among others. Several of his published studies leverage panel data analysis, incorporating diverse data sources including FactSet, Panjiva, Refinitiv and Compustat.
Chae currently serves an associate editor of the Journal of Operations Management, Journal of Supply Chain Management and International Journal of Operations & Production Management.

CPD - Sustainable Reverse Logistics in the Digital Age
2023-11-08 - 2023-11-09 | Ghana Shippers’ Authority, 7th Floor, Ghana Shippers’ House No. 12, Cruickshank Street Ambassadorial Enclave, West Ridge, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
In today’s digital age, businesses are embracing technology to enhance their operations. With increasing sustainability requirements, regulations, and consumer preferences, reverse logistics has become increasingly complex and crucial. Companies worldwide recognize the strategic importance of integrating sustainability into their reverse logistics, but they face challenges in aligning economic goals with environmental and social objectives. Learn more about reverse logistics by joining CARISCA’s continuing professional development course in “Sustainable Reverse Logistics in the Digital Age.” This CPD is accredited and co-hosted with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). Schedule: Nov. 8, 2023 : Reverse Logistics and its Significance in the business environment Nov. 9, 2023: Strategies and Tools for Effective Reverse Logistics Mode: Hybrid (Attend in-person at the Ghana Shippers’ Authority or virtually via zoom) By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

Build a business case a sustainable reverse logistics
Evaluate the environmental, economic, and social benefits of integrating sustainability into reverse logistics.
Assess industry-specific challenges and develop strategies for implementing sustainable reverse logistics in their respective domains.
Highlight successful strategies and techniques currently used by businesses to merge sustainability and reverse logistics seamlessly
Identify and utilize key technological tools, platforms, and methodologies that support sustainable reverse logistics.
Formulate actionable plans to integrate or enhance sustainable reverse logistics in their respective organizations or businesses.
Design key metrics to measure the performance of reverse logistics activities in the supply chain.

Learn more and register

Distinguished Lecture Series - Nathaniel Boso
2023-09-15
Register Now

In many developing markets, a robust trade in counterfeit and pirated goods threatens the viability of legitimate business activities. Some of the sectors most affected are processed foods, appliances, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.
About 10% of medical products in low- and middle-income countries are counterfeit, according to the World Health Organization. In Ghana, up to 30% of all medicines on the market are fake. And the Ghana Standards Authority has observed that over 70% of imported electrical cables were substandard and a major cause of fire outbreaks.
Widespread poverty in major urban communities is a contributing factor, as it erodes the negative stigma associated with consumption of illicit goods. Weak intellectual property protections and an inefficient law-enforcement system exacerbate the problem.
Despite government policies meant to encourage investments by multinational enterprises, the prevalence of counterfeit goods discourages legitimate businesses from expanding to these markets.
On September 15, Nathaniel Boso, professor of international marketing and strategy at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), will talk about what governments can do to alleviate this roadblock to investment.
“Now, they offer juicy incentives in the form of tax breaks, lower interest rates, friendly trade policies, deregulation and grants, loans and subsidies,” Boso says. “An alternative strategy is to encourage local subsidiaries of multinational enterprises to establish ties with the national government itself, local chieftains and religious institutions. Such ties are associated with growth in sales and profit.”
In his lecture, Boso will present findings from his studies of nearly 650 multinational subsidiaries operating in 23 sub-Saharan African countries.
The research shows these companies can gain advantages in the host African countries by mobilizing leaders from multiple political and cultural institutions. In fact, he found that the more dysfunctional the host country institutions become, the greater the impact these relationships have on the subsidiaries’ performance.
About the speaker:

Nathaniel Boso

Nathaniel Boso has won multiple international awards for his scholarship. Notably, 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 was recognized for authoring the paper in the Journal of International Marketing that made the most significant contribution to the advancement of international marketing management that year.
His research focuses on the interface between international entrepreneurship, industrial marketing and supply chain strategy. It has been published in numerous high-impact journals such as Journal of Business Venturing, International Journal of Production Economics and Journal of International Business Studies.
In addition to being an award-winning scholar, Boso holds multiple academic titles and administrative appointments. Among these are the prestigious OR Tambo Africa Research Chair, dean of the KNUST School of Business and director of CARISCA. He also holds positions as Extraordinary Professor of International Business at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and visiting professor at Strathmore University in Kenya.
