*CALL FOR PAPERS*
* Third Biennial **Out of (and Into) Africa** Conference 2023: *
*African Firm Strategies, Consumer Marketing and **Society*
*(Sponsored by: Morgan State University, Howard University, and CIBER-CMCC)*
*Date of Conference: November 6-7** (Monday-Tuesday), 2023*
*Venue: Online*
*SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 30, 2023*
*Conference Chair**: *
*Dr. Omar J. Khan, Morgan State University (**[log in to unmask]*
<[log in to unmask]>*)*
*Conference Theme: *
*Africapitalism: Extending the perspective to building sustainable African
international business*
*Program Chairs:*
*Dr. Omar J. Khan**, Graves School of Business and Management, Morgan State
University ([log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>) – *
*Program Chair - Firm Strategy and Tactics*
*Dr. Haiyan Hu**, Graves School of Business and Management, Morgan State
University** ([log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>) – *
*Program Chair - African Consumer Marketing*
*Dr. Wheeler R. Winstead **(Center for African Studies) and Professor Jean
T. Wells, Esq., CPA, (School of Business), Howard University (*
*[log in to unmask]* <[log in to unmask]> and*
[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>) – Note: Papers in this track
to be submitted to **[log in to unmask]* <[log in to unmask]>* -
**Program
co-Chairs - Society and Public Policy*
Following the success of the Inaugural “Out of (and Into) Africa”
conference - International Symposium on African Consumer Marketing and Firm
Strategies - which was held in person at the Graves School of Business and
Management, Morgan State University, Baltimore in 2018, and the outstanding
success of the 2nd edition of the conference (virtual) in 2021, we are now
excited to launch the 3rd edition of the “Out of (and Into) Africa”
conference series. The changes implemented in 2021 have now become
permanent. The 2023 edition will, therefore, also be characterized by the
following:
1) Online conference format: This manages travel issues and also
dramatically lowers costs for attendees. Hybrid plenary sessions across
venues may be warranted, if conditions allow.
2) Multi-HBCU involvement: Following the initiative led by the Graves
School of Business & Management at Morgan State University, we wish to
expand engagement across the HBCU community in enhancing leadership of
business and marketing scholarship regarding Africa. The Morgan/Howard
scholarly partnership continues strong.
3) Three “divisions” or programs to the conference: In addition to the
Firm Strategy (firm-level research) and Consumer Marketing (consumer-level
research), we also have a third division/program of Society & Institutions
to capture macro-level research that addresses public policy and
institutions intertwined with business and entrepreneurship development.
Online delivery of the last conference generated greater scholarly
participation from the African continent and other parts of the world – and
we will continue this format. Indeed, the 236 attendees at our 2021
conference were testament to this. The pan-HBCU scope in conference
preparation further enhances reach and attractiveness of this conference.
To be clear, though, submissions are invited from ALL academic institutions
across the world, provided that the scholarship has an African focus.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic (starting 2020), African consumer and business
spending was expected to grow beyond $4 trillion, with a striking
demographic dividend indicated by a massive expected working-age population
larger than either China or India by 2034, abundant resources, and
fast-paced growth. While the recent pandemic caused a recessionary
environment across the continent, it also created opportunities (and
challenges) for entrepreneurship and small & medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs). Innovative solutions including products/services have been
introduced in various countries across the continent - which may have
far-reaching implications, in the long run, in Africa and across the globe.
The past decade has witnessed cross-fertilization of African-born
entrepreneurship and innovation into other parts of the world, along with
growth opportunities for MNCs and SMEs into Africa. The time is ripe for an
updated showcase, *biennially*, of scholarly insights regarding
international business in this still under-studied continent - including,
and especially, insights and strategy/tactics that originated from Africa.
This conference series marks a significant step toward creating a sustained
effort among HBCUs - with Morgan leadership - to connect with Africa in
business-related research at both the micro and macro level.
The term “Africapitalism”, coined by Tony Elumelu and the Tony Elumelu
Foundation (TEF), is meant to evoke economic transformation of Africa
through African private sector and entrepreneurship. It is a
conceptualization that is essentially and unapologetically Africa-centric,
and fits well as the theme of a conference which is, in fact,
Africa-centric. The interests of Africa, Africans and the entrepreneurial
processes/innovations/paradigms created in Africa are at the very core of
this 2023 conference, which aims to extend the perspective to successful,
sustainable African international business – from one African
country/location to the rest of Africa, or from Africa to the rest of the
world.
Despite promising social economic development in Africa and foreign
marketers' enthusiasm toward its future growth, there remains limited firm
or consumer research for marketing practitioners. Extant literature shows
knowledge/application on African firm strategy and consumer behavior is
fragmented. We set following three goals for the conference:
1. Reviewing current knowledge on African consumers, marketing, firm
strategy, and societal policies - highlighting gaps in our knowledge and
understanding of international business with an African focus.
2. Bringing to light contributions/paradigms originating from Africa,
and developing an agenda for future research
3. Fostering collaborations among firm strategy, consumer marketing and
public policy researchers with similar interests.
The conference intends to provide opportunities for brainstorming and
dialogues among researchers and marketing practitioners. We especially
encourage collaboration between academia and businesses across Africa and
other parts of the world. The conference is open to any and all scholars
who have research work related to the conference theme and African
business. Such scholars can include: academic faculty, doctoral students,
policy makers, bureaucrats, think tank researchers, NGO experts, and senior
corporate managers. We encourage scholars from Africa and worldwide to
submit work.
*Submission Option**s and Guidelines: *
1. Full Paper Submission Guidelines: Each paper is to have a separate
cover page with each author’s name, affiliation, and email. Multiple
authorships should indicate the contact person. Authors should avoid
revealing their identities in the body of the paper. The title of the paper
should appear on the first page of the manuscript, followed by a 150-word
abstract, single spaced. The body of the paper follows right after on the
first page using double spacing and adhering to APA style.
1. Working Paper or Extended Abstracts: Working papers or extended
abstracts, which focus on research in its early stages, should not be less
than three pages and should not exceed seven double-spaced pages including
references, tables and figures using 12-point font. Please follow the
formatting guidelines specified for competitive refereed papers. Include a
separate cover page with the name, affiliation, and email address of each
presenter. Each accepted working paper will be published as an extended
abstract.
1. Panel, Special Session, & Workshops: Proposals should not exceed 2
double-spaced pages. Include a separate cover page with the name,
affiliation, and email of each presenter. Include description of the
panel, along with themes and presentation approach/focus. Each person
listed on a panel, special session, or workshop proposal must register for
and attend the conference.
*Note: Registration for the conference is required for all attendees,
including presenters. Registration is free of charge.*
*Research paper suggested topic areas* for submissions include, but are *not
limited to*, the following (any other areas are invited as long an *African
focus* is emphasized and/or leveraged):
The Firm Strategies and Tactics division/program invites submissions
exploring the creation and development of firm-level strategy,
advantages/disadvantages, solutions/innovations, and international business
management implications for multinational corporations (MNCs) or
small/medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Topics in this program *include*,
but are *not limited to*, the following areas:
1. African paradigms in developing business
2. Small business development strategies and tactics
3. MNC strategies and tactics in Africa
4. Family-owned firms and internationalization
5. B2B marketing and supply chain management
6. International entrepreneurship and born globals
The Consumer Marketing program advocates for research efforts from diverse
perspectives to address important theoretical and substantive issues faced
by African consumers and marketing practitioners today, ranging from the
continuing concern of pandemic and regional conflicts to economic volatility.
We *encourage* multi-method/multi-paradigmatic approaches to tackle, but
are *not limited to*, the following topic areas:
1. Arts, culture and consumption
2. Consumer psychology and behavior
3. Services, retailing, and customer experiences
4. Consumer well-being and pandemic effects
5. Social media and digital marketing
6. Emerging middle-class and Bottom of Pyramid (BOP) consumers
The Society and Public Policy division/program seeks to interrogate public
policy and societal institutions’ role, effect and changes that are
intertwined with business and entrepreneurship development in building
sustainable African International Businesses. Potential topics include, but
are not limited to, the following:
1. Environmental, Social, Governance Issues
1. Public and private enabling institutions
2. Governmental supports and barriers
3. Sociological shifts
*Please email submissions directly to relevant Program Chair (email
addresses provided at beginning of this CFP). **For further information on
past editions of this conference series, please visit the following
institutional webpages:*
*morgan.edu/sbm/africaconference
<http://morgan.edu/sbm/africaconference> *
*or cfas.howard.edu/OutofAfrica
<http://cfas.howard.edu/OutofAfrica>*
*Submission Process: *
*Submit via email directly to relevant Program Chair*: competitive refereed
papers, working papers, extended abstracts and/or proposals in Microsoft
WORD. In the subject line of the email please indicate the
appropriate program/division
as well as shortened title of submission. At least one author for
competitive submissions that are accepted must register and attend the
online Conference. Any general *question**s* should be emailed to the
conference chair. *See email addresses provided at beginning of this CFP*.
*Submission Deadline: Ju**ne 30, 2023*
All submissions will go through a double-blind review process. Reviewers
will evaluate each submission on the basis of a) quality of the research,
b) contribution to the field, c) interest and relevance of the topic to the
conference, and d) coherence and readability.
To *volunteer to serve as a paper reviewer*, please contact the conference
chair. Please include “reviewer volunteer” in the subject line.
*Thank you and we look forward to a most productive 2023 “Out of (and Into)
Africa” Conference!*
--
-------------------------
*Dr. Omar J. Khan*
Professor of Marketing and International Business
Fulbright Scholar (2018-19)
Graves School of Business and Management
Morgan State University
*Ph: 443-885-3641*
*[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>*
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