Second Call for Papers
The 2015 Conference
August 26 – 28

The Academy of International Business (AIB) is the leading association of scholars, consultants and specialists in the field of international business. Established in 1959, the AIB now has over 3,000 members in 87 countries. The AIB has 18 chapters around the world, including the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Chapter. We welcome conceptual and empirical papers, as well as teaching case studies and panel symposia from scholars, business professionals, policy makers and students.

AFRICA DIRECT INVESTMENT:

Trends, Prospects, Challenges and Policy Issues
   
Hosted by: Johannesburg, South Africa

Submission Deadline: April 30, 2015

Keynote Speakers:

Prof. Elizabeth L. Rose
AIB Vice-President, University of Otago, New Zealand

Prof. Adrian Saville
Chief Investment Officer, Cannon Asset Managers, South Africa

Second Call for Papers – The AIB SSA 2015 Conference

In recent years much attention has been paid to the surge in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the so-called BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – in Africa. However, there is a significant unfolding development that has yet to receive as much attention: the marked increase in African firms investing in Africa, or Africa Direct Investment.

According to Ernst & Young, intra-African FDI is growing faster than FDI from any other region and has increased over 30 per cent since 2007; in a similar vein, in the period 2003/13, there were more greenfield investments from African firms (994) than there were from Asian (including Chinese and Indian) firms (959), according to fDi Markets.

With the decades-long dream to expand intra-African trade and investment – evident in the dozens of treaties, regional trade agreements and public speeches of African political leaders – finally becoming a reality, there is a need to understand what factors are driving this trend, as well as the prospects, challenges and policy implications.  Our 2015 annual conference therefore aims to shed light on this topical issue. We seek conceptual and empirical papers, as well as teaching case studies and panels from scholars, business professionals, policy makers, doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students which contribute to a greater understanding of the issues contained in the theme above.

We also welcome submissions that address wider international business and management agendas and geographical contexts.

Submissions should be made to (only) one of the following tracks:

• Intra-African Trade & Africa-to-Africa Internationalization Strategy
• International Entrepreneurship, SMEs & Informal Exporting
• FDI, Global Value Chains & the Geography of IB
• Human Resources, Culture & Language in International Business
• Marketing & Consumers in International Business
• Sustainability, Responsible Leadership & Governance of Natural Resources
• Economic Diplomacy & Institutional & Political Environment of IB
• International Finance, Accounting & Economics
• General Track: International Business & Management
• Teaching Cases Track
• Student Track (excluding Doctoral students)

Teaching Cases in International Business Track

This track seeks competitive and interactive teaching case submissions. Only real-life cases that address international business issues are invited. Cases can be field-researched or based on published sources, decision-oriented or descriptive. We also welcome cases that have recently (post 2012) been registered in case clearing houses such as The Case Centre.

Student Track

We look forward to submissions – interactive and competitive papers and cases – from undergraduate and graduate (Masters) students, particularly those pursuing MBA or international business-related degrees.
 
Special Panels, PDWs & Tracks

The conference will feature several panels, symposia, ‘scholars meet practice’ sessions and mini- workshops. The following special tracks and panels have been proposed:

• Africapitalism
• Strategic Talent Management in Africa

Please send your proposals directly to the Chair, Special Tracks, PDWs & Panels: Adun Okupe, University of Edinburgh, UK  I  Email:  adun.okupe@ed.ac.uk

Submission Guidelines

Following the AIB “rule of three,” no author should be associated with more than 3 submissions.

Competitive papers must not exceed 10,000 words, and must comply to the JIBS style requirements;Please refer to http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jibs/style_guide.html.

Interactive papers should be around 2,000 – 5,000 words. Submissions should clearly state the research questions, methodology and contribution. The main results and implications for IB research and practice should be discussed, if available/applicable.

Teaching cases should be around 2,000 – 5,000 for interactive/‘embryo’ cases and no more than 10,000 words for competitive cases.

Panel proposals should have 3 – 5 scholars and/or students and a common theme, as well as a chair/discussant. We welcome a variety of proposals (paper presentations, roundtable, and professional development workshop). The names of participants and the discussant should be disclosed for this type of submission.

Competitive papers, interactive papers and teaching cases will be double-blind reviewed; please do not include any author-identifying information. Authors are strongly encouraged to assist in the review process. 

Submissions open from December 1, 2014

Please make your submissions here: http://meetings.aib.msu.edu/ssa/2015/

Research Methods in International Business Mini-Workshop

In line with the SSA chapter’s goal to promote research excellence and improve the quality of IB research in the region, distinguished IB scholars will be leading mini-workshops and PDWs on research methods: Doing Case Studies and Qualitative Research in International Business, and Statistical Research Methods in International Business. Doctoral candidates, junior faculty, and those new to the field of IB are particularly encouraged to attend the workshops/PDWs. More details will be provided closer to the conference date.

Teaching International Business Mini-Workshop

A workshop on topical issues in IB teaching and curriculum development will be led by award-winning IB educators.
 
Best Conference Paper Awards

Several prizes will be awarded at the conference:
Best Competitive Paper Award
Best Thematic Conference Paper Award
Best Teaching Case Award
Best Conference Paper Prize for Practice / Policy Implications Award
Best Doctoral Paper Award
Best Undergraduate / Graduate Student Paper Award
Best Conference Reviewer Award

Publication Opportunities!

A selection of papers and cases that are aligned with the conference theme will be considered for inclusion in the AIB Sub-Saharan Africa Book Series published by Palgrave Macmillan. All accepted conference papers will be published as an abstract in the 2015 AIB-SSA Conference Proceedings.The programme committee may also explore publishing a collection of competitive papers with a topical theme in the following journals: International Journal of Emerging Markets and Africa Journal of Management.

Networking & Experiential Learning Journey!

Network and develop collaborative opportunities with international scholars, business executives and students at the welcome reception, gala dinner, and field visits to some of the leading local players and multinationals based in South Africa.

Explore Magical South Africa!

Every country in the world displays some diversity, but South Africa, stretching from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins waddling on the Cape, takes some beating. It befits its position at the southern end of the world’s most epic continent, with more types of terrain than photographers can shake their zoom lens at. There’s the deserted Kalahari, Namakwa’s springtime symphony of wildflowers, iconic Table Mountain and Cape Point, Kruger National Park’s wildlife-stalked savannah and, running through the east of the country and into Lesotho, the Drakensberg. KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park alone has five distinct ecosystems, attracting both zebras and dolphins.

Registration Fees

The registration fees (in US Dollars) includes conference materials, a copy of the first volume of the AIB-SSA chapter book series, refreshments and lunches, but not accommodation costs.

Early Bird (by June 12) Late Registration (from June 13)  

For more details about AIB membership, please go to:  http://aib.msu.edu/membership/aboutindmembership.asp
or Email:  ulf.richter@nottingham.edu.cn
Dr Ulf Henning Richter
AIB-SSA Chapter Membership Secretary

For details regarding accommodation, registration payment, experiential learning trips and the conference programme, please visit the conference website.

The 2015 Programme Committee

Dr Ifedapo Adeleye  Lagos Business School, Nigeria  E:iadeleye@lbs.edu.ng

Dr Lyal White  GIBS, South Africa  E: whitel@gibs.co.za   

Dr Lite Nartey University of South Carolina, USA E: lite.nartey@moore.sc.edu

Dr Hanningtone  Gaya  Riara University, Kenya E: gaya@wananchi.com

Ms Theresa Onaji-Benson Federal University Lafia, Nigeria E: tidenyi@yahoo.com

Conference Website: http://www.riarauniversity.ac.ke/aibssa2015conference