2027 CONFERENCE THEME:
Leveraging Africa's Resources and Potential for the Future

Africa is home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population, burgeoning cities, and bold innovations in everything from fintech to clean energy. Its population is expected to nearly double to 2.5 billion people by 2050.

Despite the many challenges the continent faces, the diversity of resources in Africa is unparalleled. As such, the continent presents myriad opportunities for robust, inclusive growth that harness its rich natural resources and abundant human potential to increase prosperity not only in Africa but around the world (McKinsey Global Institute, 2023).

Leveraging Africa’s vast talent and potential in a sustainable way, while developing its resilience, is key to empowering its economic transformation.

The theme is meant to be interpreted broadly, and papers not addressing the theme are also welcome.

Preference for conference presentations will be given to papers that address some aspect of international business, cross-cultural and/or comparative management, or global business perspectives.

Continuing in 2027: POSTER SESSIONS!
(available in each track)

SUBMISSION TRACKS

Theme Track : Unlocking Africa’s Potential
Focuses on issues such as Agricultural Development and Food Security, Economic Policies and Market Dynamics as well as diverse perspectives and innovative solutions that can contribute to a comprehensive understanding of how Africa's resources can be harnessed effectively.

Business Policy and Strategy
Focuses on strategic management and policy issues that arise when engaged in international business in a global economy, as well as government-business interface.

Corporate Governance
Focuses on theory and practice of corporate governance. This domain explores roles and responsibilities of primary participants who are owners, supervisory and management board members, and managers of the organization.

Entrepreneurship
Focuses on issues related to the creation, support, and growth of small businesses and entrepreneurial organizations to include innovative small business practices and supporting entrepreneurial ventures in developing countries.

Human Resources
Focuses on aspects of human resource management including recruitment, selection, performance appraisal, compensation, socialization, training, and the development of human capital around the globe.

Management Education & Development
Focuses on issues of pedagogy and learning across cultures (e.g., distance learning) and classroom teaching methods that facilitate the acquisition of skills for managing in a global economy.

Managing Operations
This track covers all the aspects of manufacturing, service, humanitarian, healthcare, sustainable, and behavioral operations, as well as related aspects including interdisciplinary approaches that enhance green performance and efficient use of resources.

Organizational Behavior and Theory
Focuses on motivation, leadership, organizational learning, change, and the management of people in organizations across the globe.

Research Methods
Focuses on methodologies that advance management research and practice. These include quantitative and qualitative methods, survey and archival methods, experimental and non-experimental methods, cross-cultural approaches, and statistical modeling approaches.

Social Issues in Management
Focuses on the ways that organizations operating in a global environment fulfill their social responsibilities, create ethical cultures, and address issues surrounding sustainability.

Technology, Communication, and IS
Focuses on the use of technology and IS to manage and increase efficiency and effectiveness of the firm in a global environment as well as explore communication within and across organizations and how technology interacts with human systems.

Transformative Philanthropy & Nonprofit Management
Today, more than ever, transformational philanthropy plays a crucial role beyond traditional grant making. The track examines how philanthropy and nonprofit management can address complex societal challenges and generate measurable and sustainable impact while creating important knowledge for all stakeholders and society as a whole.

Developmental Papers
Authors are invited to submit drafts of full manuscripts in need of additional work to make ready for conference or journal submission to this track. Authors of accepted papers must agree to review and provide feedback to others in their session and will, in turn, receive feedback about their own paper. At the discretion of the Program Chair, authors of some developmental papers that show promise may also be invited to present their work in a Poster Session.