Over the past half a century, the accelerated pace of globalisation coupled with technological breakthroughs have ushered in a new era of global competition and new roles of technology (White & Bruton, 2011; Afuah, 2009; Narula, 2014). A noticeable trend is the shift towards investment in new and emerging technology by firms and governments as a means of creating conditions for local innovation and the flourish of local firms (White & Bruton, 2011) in order to enhance their global competitiveness and survival. Technology now plays a much significant role in fostering economic development and entrepreneurship in many emerging economies (The Economist, 2015).
At the same time, a growing body of knowledge has suggested that technology has potential to unlock the potential of African industries and foster entrepreneurial development (Amankwah-Amoah, 2015). It has also been suggested that new technologies are creating conditions for emerging indigenous firms to thrive (The Economist, 2015) giving social innovation programmes the capacity to enhance economic development in Africa. Governments are increasingly deploying their limited resources to identify and utilise technologies that can help improve decision-making and wider public policy (Amankwah-Amoah & Sarpong, 2016). Countries in Africa should also rely on foreign firms for technology transfer (Osabutey et al., 2014). In addition, considerable government involvement is required to enhance technological adoption, among other things, by promoting national identification, societal involvement and improving educational infrastructures (Galang, 2012). The expected role of government has not been significant in Africa because of policy lacunae (Osabutey & Debrah, 2012). Government policy should potentially chart technology and innovation trajectories that would contribute to economic development. Perhaps, this is where Africa, unlike other regions of the world such as South-East Asia, lags behind. Engendering state driven technology development is lacking in Africa (Osabutey et al., 2014) and there is the need for academic contribution to this debate.
Whilst these issues persist, our understanding of the business environment in Africa has also not caught up with the emerging effects of the role of new technology on innovation and economic development. Technology development, adoption and utilisation in Africa have, undeservedly, not received adequate scholarly attention. Against this backdrop, the purpose of this special issue is to provide space for scholars to showcase their works on indigenous innovations, and on harnessing technology for development and entrepreneurial activities as well as the policy implications. The special issue will explore these linkages and would encompass, but not be limited to, the following topics:
- Forecasting the role of technology in African business and development
- The role of technology in overcoming constraints to entrepreneurship, innovation and business development in Africa
- Science, innovation and technology policy review in Africa,
- Challenges of building science and technological capacity in Africa,
- Technology and knowledge transfer issues in Africa
- Social innovation and economic development in Africa
- Technological catch-up, leapfrogging and scaling-up of new technologies,
- Product innovation success and failure in Africa,
- Technology adoption in sub-Sahara Africa- mobile-money account,
- Emerging African multinationals in the technology sector,
- Strategies to scale-up latest technology,
- Internet development and online entrepreneurs,
- Technological obsolescence,
- Chinese technology multinationals in Africa,
- Technology management and clean energy investments.
The guest editors welcome both empirical and conceptual papers, and would welcome innovative papers on any of the above subjects. We particularly look for papers that seek to make key contributions to technological forecasting and social change, strategy and international business literatures. Authors need to note that the mere focus on Africa does not qualify as significant contribution.
Contributors should note:
This call is open and competitive, and papers submitted will be subjected to the blind reviewed procedures of TFSC.
Please select the article type as SI: Business in Africa for submitting your papers
- Afuah, A. (2009). Strategic innovation: new game strategies for competitive advantage. Routledge, New York.
- Amankwah-Amoah, J. (2015). Solar energy in sub-Saharan Africa: The challenges and opportunities of technological leapfrogging. Thunderbird International Business Review, 57(1), 15–31.
- Amankwah-Amoah, J. (2016). Global business and emerging economies: Towards a new perspective on the effects of e-waste. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 105, 20–26.
- Amankwah-Amoah, J., & Sarpong, D. (2016). Historical pathways to a green economy: The evolution and scaling-up of solar PV in Ghana, 1980-2010. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 102, 90–101.
- Buckley, P. J., & Hashai, N. (2014). The role of technological catch up and domestic market growth in the genesis of emerging country based multinationals. Research Policy, 43(2), 423-437.
- Cavusgil, S.T, Knight, G., & Riesenberger, J. (2012). International business: strategy, management, and the new realities. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
- Dodgson, M., Gann, D., Salter, A., 2008. The management of technological innovation: Strategy and practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Galang, R.M.N. (2012), ‘Government efficiency and international technology adoption: the speed of electronic ticketing among airlines’, Journal of International Business Studies, 43 (7), 631-654.
- Montobbio, F., & Sterzi, V. (2013). The globalization of technology in emerging markets: a gravity model on the determinants of international patent collaborations. World Development, 44, 281-299.
- Narula, R. (2014). Globalization and technology: Interdependence, innovation systems and industrial policy. John Wiley & Sons.
- Osabutey, E. L., & Debrah, A. Y. (2012). Foreign direct investment and technology transfer policies in Africa: A review of the Ghanaian experience. Thunderbird International Business Review, 54(4), 441–456.
- Osabutey, E. L. C., Williams, K. & Debrah, A. Y. (2014). The Potential for Technology and Knowledge Transfers between Foreign and Local Firms: A study of the Construction Industry in Ghana. Journal of World Business. 49(4), 560–571.
- The Economist (2015). Technology in Africa: The pioneering continent. Apr 25th 2015
- White, M. & Bruton, G. D. (2011). The Management of Technology & Innovation: A Strategic Approach. 2nd, Mason, OH: Thomson-Southwestern.
All enquiries should be directed to Dr. Joseph Amankwah-Amoah at E-mail: Joseph.firstname.lastname@example.org
Tentative Publication Schedule:
November 30, 2016
February 28, 2017
Revised paper submission
June 30, 2017
Final manuscript submissions to publisher
Special Issue Guest Editors:
Dr. Joseph Amankwah-Amoah
School of Economics, Finance & Management,
8 Woodland Road
Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1TN
Tel: 0044 (0)117 3317936
Dr. Ellis L.C. Osabutey
Department of International Management and Innovation
Middlesex University Business School
London NW4 4BT
+44 (0) 208 411 5282
Dr. Abiodun Egbetokun
Science Policy and Innovation Studies Department
National Centre for Technology Management
(Federal Ministry of Science and Technology)
PMB 012, Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile-Ife 220005, Nigeria
email@example.com (cc: firstname.lastname@example.org)