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Coming of age, seeking legitimacy: The historical trajectory of African management research

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  • Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the historical trajectory of African management research and managerial thinking. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws from a review and synthesis of the literature from 1960–2012. Findings – The analysis led to the identification of three distinct phases which reflect the difficult and uncertain beginning to a promising future. Our historical pathway model also allows us to account for the evolution of management philosophies and thoughts, and current state of knowledge. Originality/value – Although there is a burgeoning stream of African management research, lack of comprehensive review and synthesis have obscured the enormous strides made. We advance a “novel” approach towards theory application and theory creation building on the “convergence hypothesis” and “divergence hypothesis”. Our analysis yielded a number of promising avenues for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2014. "Coming of age, seeking legitimacy: The historical trajectory of African management research," MPRA Paper 63625, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:63625
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joseph Amankwah-Amoah & Yaw A. Debrah, 2014. "Air Afrique: the demise of a continental icon," Business History, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(4), pages 517-546, June.
    2. Jackson, Terence & Amaeshi, Kenneth & Yavuz, Serap, 2008. "Untangling African indigenous management: Multiple influences on the success of SMEs in Kenya," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 400-416, October.
    3. Peter Blunt, 1973. "Cultural And Situational Determinants Of Job Satisfaction Amongst Management In South Africa — A Research Note," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(2), pages 133-140, May.
    4. Barney, Jay B. & Zhang, Shujun, 2009. "The Future of Chinese Management Research: A Theory of Chinese Management versus A Chinese Theory of Management," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 5(1), pages 15-28, March.
    5. Kiggundu, Moses N., 1996. "Integrating strategic management tasks into implementing agencies: From firefighting to prevention," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 24(9), pages 1417-1430, September.
    6. Geoffrey Jones & Tarun Khanna, 2006. "Bringing history (back) into international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(4), pages 453-468, July.
    7. Moses Acquaah, 2012. "Social networking relationships, firm‐specific managerial experience and firm performance in a transition economy: A comparative analysis of family owned and nonfamily firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(10), pages 1215-1228, October.
    8. Moses Acquaah, 2007. "Managerial social capital, strategic orientation, and organizational performance in an emerging economy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(12), pages 1235-1255, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    African management research; Africa; business;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L0 - Industrial Organization - - General
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • M0 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - General
    • M1 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration
    • M2 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics
    • M3 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising

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