Chinese Organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa:

New Dynamics, New Synergies

Sandisa Imbewu Research Award

Presented by Prof Lynette Louw, Dept of Management 2013, Rhodes University

Sandisa Imbewu

‘We are growing/multiplying our seeds’

The seed fund is aptly named Sandisa Imbewu as it reflects Rhodes University's strategy to grow its postgraduate

student numbers, research and development programmes and to multiply its postgraduate and research outputs

towards enhancing its standing as the ‘Scholarly University’.

ContextThere is a need in Africa to develop not simply effective organisational management and leadership, but also that which is appropriate to Africa. Similarly, it is not sufficient to develop knowledge for Africa, but to develop knowledge from Africa. African knowledge and culture, pertaining to the science (theory) and practice of Management, has been largely denigrated, as has the knowledge pertaining to Chinese management in Africa.

Context• China’s presence in Africa is changing geopolitical dynamics• Impact at organizational and community levels• Dynamics influence the ways scholars view Chinese activity• Research at organizational level … in Africa is practically non-

existent• Contemporary interest in critical studies has given theory

development an impetus … social sciences • Theoretical and empirical developments in the study of China

abroad are in their infancy

Purpose• Seeks to: – develop relevant cross cultural theory that is both

effective and appropriate to Africa– develop research capacity at post graduate level – advise stakeholders on:

• the cross-cultural appropriateness and effectiveness• policies and practices

– to enable/facilitate dialogue among stakeholders – contribute to knowledge and scholarly

research, policy and practice.

Purpose

• Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa• Findings … implications for management

– Chinese organisations in other parts of the world– Chinese management policy and practice generally

Research Collaborators• International collaborators

– Professor Lynette Louw on behalf of the Department of Management, Rhodes University

– Professor Terence Jackson from Middlesex University Business School, The Burrough, Hendon, London

– Professor Shuming Zhao from Nanjing University, Nanjing, China

• Other collaborators– Confucius Institute at Rhodes University– Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network – Dr Yoon Park– Centre for Chinese Studies, University of Stellenbosch– Chinese Association of South Africa (CASA)– Research Advisors: Messrs Jindi An and Jinghao Lu

Support and Researchers• Support

– Vice Chancellor’s office at Rhodes University – National Research Foundation – Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber – Border Kei Chamber of Commerce– ECDC– Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in South Africa, the

honourable Mr Tian Xuejun - Mr Rong Yanson, Econmic and Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy

• Researchers – Masters: Four registered students– PhDs: Four registered student plus 2– Case studies: Tanzania, Cameroon ,Uganda, Kenya

Milestones Achieved

• Collaborators and research associate meetings – November 2012, and March 2013.

• Workshop on qualitative research and case study writing• Finalise case study interview schedules

– Tanzania, Cameroon ,Uganda, Kenya

• Conference papers: 4• Published articles: 3• Symposium: 31 October – 1 November 2013

– China in Africa: Implications for Management, Implications for Change

• Access to Chinese organisations

Thank you!!