RESEARCH AT HENLEY AFRICA
African knowledge
for the world
Knowledge drives economies and African knowledge can help build a stronger Africa, and a richer world. At Henley Africa we are investing in forward-thinking research that is focused on understanding and advancing business on the continent, and connecting African researchers into a global research network.
Henley Research Magazine
Henley Business School Africa is uniquely positioned to bring fresh, independent voices into the classroom and provide critical insights to industry. Welcome to the first edition of our research magazine, where we showcase our finest research and scholarly output from the past year.
Sense-making for better business
True to the mission of Henley Business School Africa – we build the people, who build the businesses, that build Africa – our diverse body of academics and practitioners are working at the forefront of business and management practice to foster sense-making capabilities that benefit our students, clients, partners, and broader society.
Our research strengths span several broad themes:
- Reputation
- Leadership
- International business
- Consumer Behaviour with an African context
- Immersive learning (Virtual reality)
Strength in numbers
As an international business school Henley Africa is automatically well-connected into a global research agenda. Our researchers are collaborating with peers at institutions around the world as well as with those at other South African and African institutions.
We also work with our clients and other businesses and organisations in our networks to ensure that our research is applied and relevant to today’s business context.
Actionable insights
Research at Henley Business School Africa is multidisciplinary and is geared towards the production of actionable research including white papers and teaching case studies. We also publish widely in top-tier journals and conference proceedings. We have four dedicated research centres research centres, of which three are sister centres of Henley Business School UK research centres, but our research interests are not bound by these foci.
Research centres
A sister centre of the John Madejski Centre for Reputation, focused on building sustainability and societal impact with respect to reputation and relationships in African businesses. read more
A sister centre of the Henley Centre for Leadership, focused on recognising, developing, transforming, and sustaining positive and optimistic leadership in Africa.
Straddling the fields of international business, strategic management, innovation, and human resource management in African businesses.
A Henley Africa research centre focused on studying and understanding consumer behaviour of African consumers
A unique immersive case centre that is focused on producing case studies and immersive experiences accompanied by virtual reality (VR) films that provide delegates with an unbeatable immersive experience.
Our Research Outputs
Our publishing record is growing! We provide our researchers lots of support to hone their research, writing, and publishing skills to produce relevant and insightful research that advances African knowledge and helps our students learn better.
Journal articles and conference proceedings
Recent publications include an article published by E Van Tonder and D Petzer (2022) in European Business Review, entitled Factors promoting customer citizenship behaviours and the moderating role of self-monitoring: a study of ride-hailing services, and an article in the International Journal of Anthropology, by L Spini and A Innes. (2022) on: Johnny Clegg: a polycultural anthropologist on stage for social justice.
White papers
The effective use of VR in business school education
By Ms Louise Claassen and Ms Cara Bouwer
Deliberate collaboration
By Dr Julian Day
From rigidity to resonance
By Mr Barry van Zyl and Ms Cara Bouwer
Amplifying the impact of African business schools
By Dean Jon Foster-Pedley and Ms Cara Bouwer
HBS Africa White Paper Series
Keeping pace with an unfolding future
In sync-personally, professionally, strategically
Adapting to a new world of work and leadership
HBS Africa Research Reports
Unlocking the potential of lower level employees: a collaborative approach for upliftment and empowerment in South Africa’s FMCG retail sector
IMPLICATIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA’S NATIONAL STATEENTERPRISES BILL
TIMING MATTERS: APPLYING MUSICIANS' INSIGHTS TO BUSINESS
Case studies
- Ofgen: Eyeing growth in Africa’s sustainable energy sector
- Serena Hotels: Deliberating the use of solar at Kenya’s Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
- Sultan Green: Data-driven conservation agriculture in Africa
- Agtech in Africa: Digital solutions to empower smallscale farmers
- Gikomba Market: Adapt or die, or something in between
- Gikomba Market: A vendor’s dilemma
- Gikomba Market: The life cycle of a shoe
- EOH: Corruption, losses, and the impact of a poor risk culture
- A ‘Faustian pact’? Implementing a COVID-19 vaccination policy in a South African corporate
- Transnet Container Corridor: Affecting a Modal Shift from Road to Rail
- Transnet Container Corridor: Embracing the Power of 4IR Thinking, Tools and Technology
- Transnet Container Corridor: The Role of Cross-silo Leadership in Driving Competitiveness
- Surgical leadership: disrupting the status quo
- Traditional leadership in Africa – navigating complex stakeholder relationship
- Churning sweet childhood memories into a successful business venture: the case of Roska Artisan Ice Cream
- Gift of the Givers: harnessing spiritual leadership to help build resilience
Our case studies are available from The Case Centre at the following link: https://www.thecasecentre.org/caseCollection/HenleyBusinessSchoolAfrica
Creating positive change through business
The Renewal Foundation is sponsoring an annual award for the best Henley Business School Africa Management Research Challenge (MRC) project focusing on how teams and organisations can make a positive difference in addressing the climate and ecological crisis. The award is supporting the further development and implementation of the MRC project, with both a financial award of £2 500 and free mentoring support for the winner.