The Role of Faculty Research in the Development of a Management Research and Knowledge Culture in African Educational Institutions

This article delineates the individual and institutional challenges management faculty in African universities face in producing research that is relevant to the African context and also meets the growing expectation for international publications. We argue that faculty in Africa should and must do research not just for the sake of doing research, but this research should contribute to the knowledge economy, be relevant to the African context, and ensure students are educated through the use of empirical and theoretical research on local and continental management issues. An exploratory survey of 57 faculty members from 10 African countries (Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda) examines the extent of research funding, support, and incentives within their universities. Thus, suggestions are proffered as to what African universities and business schools, the business community, and governments should do to enhance research infrastructure, productivity, and quality. The article ends with a conclusion and a set of implications.