Multinational firms still have a lot to learn about doing business in Africa

David B. Zoogah lists the four competencies businesses need to develop in order to achieve greater return

Autochthonous management knowledge/knowledge management in Africa

Purpose: There is a growing desire for more scientific and technical knowledge regarding Africa. This is because Africa has the potential and opportunity to generate impactful research. However, this potential is not optimized because of several constraints, including the lack of systematic reviews and models of knowledge management and paradoxical trends in Africa. The purpose of this paper is to review studies on knowledge management and associated paradoxes in Africa and a paradox-conscious African knowledge management model. The autochthonous African model that the authors propose has implications for global knowledge management. Design/methodology/approach: The authors review studies on knowledge management and paradoxes on Africa. Findings: The authors propose a model and identify 12 paradoxes broadly categorized as industrial, political and social. Practical implications: The paradoxical tensions characteristic of Africa may be considered integral to business and policy rather than local expressions to be solved through international “best practice.” Originality/value: The model this paper propose enables theoretical and empirical studies of knowledge management sensitive to the paradoxical tensions associated with autochthonous management knowledge and autochthonous knowledge management.authorsversionpublishe

Personal reflections on African management: Looking in, looking out and looking ahead

The author was invited to give the 2011 Inaugural Conference address of the Africa Academy of Management (AFAM). The purpose of this paper is to summarize the remarks of the author's keynote address, so as to make them more widely available to varied audiences and to stimulate research and discussion about the future of African management. – It is a personal story of an African pioneer in African management education, research and practice. The author also shares personal thoughts for building business schools in Africa. – AFAM and its members have a role to play to advance Africa's management, leadership and overall development. – The idea is not for others to replicate the author's journey but to learn from it as they forge their own