Using social practice approaches for strategic management research in Africa: an example, design considerations and potential contributions

Journal article


Darbi, W. and Coffie, S. 2021. Using social practice approaches for strategic management research in Africa: an example, design considerations and potential contributions. Africa Journal of Management. 7 (2), pp. 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322373.2021.1902212
AuthorsDarbi, W. and Coffie, S.
Abstract

African management theories and practices have received scant scholarly attention in organization and management literature. The recognition for vast opportunities for developing, adapting and extending management concepts, theories and practices in situ has become topical. Scholars have responded thus far, as a bourgeoning body of Africa-centric management and organization knowledge is gradually building as never before. The modest strides made to date covering research approaches are currently limited. By reference to an empirical study this paper explicates a more qualitative, nuanced, relational, and socialized strategy-as-practice research approach that is better attuned to examining strategy as a social practice in context. Extant studies have advanced arguments for the need and value in African-focused management research (the why), the current paper brings the salience of research approaches to the African-focused management scholarship agenda (the how) into sharper focus. The paper specifically, articulates a social practice-inspired research approach for theorizing strategic management in Africa.

KeywordsAfrica; Bourdieu; social practice
Year2021
JournalAfrica Journal of Management
Journal citation7 (2), pp. 1-23
PublisherRoutledge, Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN2332-2373
2332-2381
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/23322373.2021.1902212
Web address (URL)http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23322373.2021.1902212
Output statusPublished
Publication dates06 May 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted17 Nov 2020
Deposited26 Oct 2023
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