Hardback
Technological Leapfrogging and Innovation in Africa
Digital Transformation and Opportunity for the Next Growth Continent
9781800370388 Edward Elgar Publishing
Offering invaluable insights into technologically-driven change in Africa, this incisive book envisions myriad positive economic changes brought about by new technologies and innovations. Rooted in original research from contributors who have worked and taught in Africa, it encapsulates developments and breakthroughs throughout the continent.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
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Offering invaluable insights into technologically-driven change in Africa, this incisive book envisions myriad positive economic changes brought about by new technologies and innovations. Rooted in original research from contributors who have worked and taught in Africa, it encapsulates developments and breakthroughs throughout the continent.
Technological Leapfrogging and Innovation in Africa details research and data on leading African economies and companies, illustrating the current achievements of these key players. With contributions by authors from a broad variety of fields including law, economics and journalism, it considers unique circumstances such as Africa’s post-pandemic recovery. It provides contextualised examinations of the challenges involved in technological leapfrogging for sub-Saharan Africa.
This timely book will be essential for students and academics of entrepreneurship, development economics and innovation. It will additionally be of great benefit to policy makers interested in expanding their awareness of innovation and research in Africa.
Technological Leapfrogging and Innovation in Africa details research and data on leading African economies and companies, illustrating the current achievements of these key players. With contributions by authors from a broad variety of fields including law, economics and journalism, it considers unique circumstances such as Africa’s post-pandemic recovery. It provides contextualised examinations of the challenges involved in technological leapfrogging for sub-Saharan Africa.
This timely book will be essential for students and academics of entrepreneurship, development economics and innovation. It will additionally be of great benefit to policy makers interested in expanding their awareness of innovation and research in Africa.
Critical Acclaim
‘This provocative volume provides a whole new lens for understanding the potential of technology to redefine the future of Africa. The contributors provide a perspective that is both realistic and holistic, particularly in reflecting the social, economic, cultural, and political challenges facing the continent. They approach technological leapfrogging not as a silver bullet, but as a catalyst that, if managed appropriately, can have cross-sectoral benefits and produce sustainable economic development.’
– Michael H. Morris, University of Notre Dame, US
‘Technological Leapfrogging and Innovation in Africa: Digital Transformation and Opportunity for the Next Growth Continent is a must-read for knowing where Africa is going and opportunities for its future. Transformational pathway implications for the continent are described in detail.’
– Dianne H.B. Welsh, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, US
‘This is a highly interesting and innovative volume for everyone with an interest in industrialization, leapfrogging, and technological development on the African continent. It will also be of help to scholars and practitioners who are working on business strategy in developing countries more generally. Moreover, the volume raises important policy implications and lessons learned from a variety of detailed case studies and contexts across the continent.’
– Peter Lund-Thomsen, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
‘Technology leapfrogging seems to be a promising approach to boost economic development and innovative solutions across Africa, but how can it succeed? What factors need to be considered? What should be avoided? Through an interdisciplinary and institutional lens, this edited research volume addresses such questions by building on timely cases and data, while not neglecting influencing local contexts and traditions of the 54 African countries. A must-read for scholars and practitioners who are eager to find innovative solutions that are beneficial for the continent and its people.’
– Emamdeen Fohim, Centre for African Smart Public Value Governance, Mauritius
‘Technological Leapfrogging and Innovation in Africa: Digital Transformation and Opportunity for the Next Growth Continent is a timely book for scholars and practitioners on digital transformation and technological leapfrogging, concepts that offer challenges as well as opportunities that are necessary for fast tracking Africa’s growth and development.’
– Jane Khayesi, Leeds University Business School, UK
‘The rapid urbanization of a very youthful and educated population coupled with immense leaps in technology puts Africa at the crux of a technological transformation of society. Swartz, Scheepers, Lindgreen, Yousafzai, and Matthee vividly capture the opportunities, challenges, and nuance this presents African economies.’
– Hermann A. Ndofor, Indiana University, US and Associate Editor of Africa Journal of Management and Journal of Management
– Michael H. Morris, University of Notre Dame, US
‘Technological Leapfrogging and Innovation in Africa: Digital Transformation and Opportunity for the Next Growth Continent is a must-read for knowing where Africa is going and opportunities for its future. Transformational pathway implications for the continent are described in detail.’
– Dianne H.B. Welsh, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, US
‘This is a highly interesting and innovative volume for everyone with an interest in industrialization, leapfrogging, and technological development on the African continent. It will also be of help to scholars and practitioners who are working on business strategy in developing countries more generally. Moreover, the volume raises important policy implications and lessons learned from a variety of detailed case studies and contexts across the continent.’
– Peter Lund-Thomsen, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
‘Technology leapfrogging seems to be a promising approach to boost economic development and innovative solutions across Africa, but how can it succeed? What factors need to be considered? What should be avoided? Through an interdisciplinary and institutional lens, this edited research volume addresses such questions by building on timely cases and data, while not neglecting influencing local contexts and traditions of the 54 African countries. A must-read for scholars and practitioners who are eager to find innovative solutions that are beneficial for the continent and its people.’
– Emamdeen Fohim, Centre for African Smart Public Value Governance, Mauritius
‘Technological Leapfrogging and Innovation in Africa: Digital Transformation and Opportunity for the Next Growth Continent is a timely book for scholars and practitioners on digital transformation and technological leapfrogging, concepts that offer challenges as well as opportunities that are necessary for fast tracking Africa’s growth and development.’
– Jane Khayesi, Leeds University Business School, UK
‘The rapid urbanization of a very youthful and educated population coupled with immense leaps in technology puts Africa at the crux of a technological transformation of society. Swartz, Scheepers, Lindgreen, Yousafzai, and Matthee vividly capture the opportunities, challenges, and nuance this presents African economies.’
– Hermann A. Ndofor, Indiana University, US and Associate Editor of Africa Journal of Management and Journal of Management
Contributors
Contributors: Phil Alves, Kieran Brown, Christopher Denecke, Arielle S. Emmett, Alet C. Erasmus, Frances Fabian, Nikitta Hahn, Adam Lindgreen, Joel Malen, Motshedisi (Tshidi) Mathibe, Marianne Matthee, Michelle Montague-Mfuni, Hugh Myres, Njuguna Ndung’u, Alex Oguso, Ali Parry, Liezl Rees, Michele Ruiters, Caren Brenda Scheepers, Ashley Elizabeth Sperbeck, Ethné Swartz, David Teece, Asmitha Tiekam, Paul M. Vaaler, Wilma Viviers, Lyal White, Shumaila Yousafzai, Ivy Zhang
Contents
Contents:
Foreword xii
by Kimberly Killmer Hollister
Foreword xiv
by Morris Mthombeni
Acknowledgements xvii
Introduction to Technological Leapfrogging and Innovation in Africa 1
Ethné Swartz, Caren Brenda Scheepers, Adam Lindgreen, Shumaila Yousafzai,
and Marianne Matthee
1 Technology leapfrogging in Sub-Saharan Africa: jumping the
management capabilities gap 17
David Teece, Kieran Brown, and Phil Alves
2 Following the money: leapfrogging through and with entrepreneurial
growth companies in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa 33
Ethné Swartz, Christopher Denecke and Caren Brenda Scheepers
3 Technological leapfrogging in Africa: critical success factors to drive
inclusive growth 55
Marianne Matthee and Caren Brenda Scheepers
4 Advancing technological hub collaborations to promote transnational
African communities 71
Michelle Montague-Mfuni, Frances Fabian, and Caren Brenda Scheepers
5 Digital technology and innovation in Africa: leapfrogging in finance 89
Njuguna Ndung’u and Alex Oguso
6 Financial leapfrogging and innovative financing in sub-Saharan Africa:
gender-lens investments for gender equality 112
Michele Ruiters and Motshedisi Mathibe
7 Two kinds of time: the Chinese–Kenyan infrastructure disconnect 136
Arielle S. Emmett
8 Ongoing technological innovation in the home: a blessing or a curse? 155
Alet C. Erasmus
9 Can digital technologies help Africa to leapfrog its massive education gap? 171
Ali Parry and Wilma Viviers
10 Digital leadership skills that South African leaders require for
successful digital transformation 184
Asmitha Tiekam and Hugh Myres
11 Legal leapfrogging? Legal system and rule of law effects on
cross-listing to bond by emerging-market firms 207
Joel Malen, Paul M. Vaaler, and Ivy Zhang
12 How intellectual property regimes and innovative infrastructure
promote growth of Africa’s technological market 245
Ashley Elizabeth Sperbeck
13 Africa’s post-pandemic economic recovery: catch up, don’t give up 268
Lyal White, Liezl Rees, and Nikitta Hahn
Index
Foreword xii
by Kimberly Killmer Hollister
Foreword xiv
by Morris Mthombeni
Acknowledgements xvii
Introduction to Technological Leapfrogging and Innovation in Africa 1
Ethné Swartz, Caren Brenda Scheepers, Adam Lindgreen, Shumaila Yousafzai,
and Marianne Matthee
1 Technology leapfrogging in Sub-Saharan Africa: jumping the
management capabilities gap 17
David Teece, Kieran Brown, and Phil Alves
2 Following the money: leapfrogging through and with entrepreneurial
growth companies in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa 33
Ethné Swartz, Christopher Denecke and Caren Brenda Scheepers
3 Technological leapfrogging in Africa: critical success factors to drive
inclusive growth 55
Marianne Matthee and Caren Brenda Scheepers
4 Advancing technological hub collaborations to promote transnational
African communities 71
Michelle Montague-Mfuni, Frances Fabian, and Caren Brenda Scheepers
5 Digital technology and innovation in Africa: leapfrogging in finance 89
Njuguna Ndung’u and Alex Oguso
6 Financial leapfrogging and innovative financing in sub-Saharan Africa:
gender-lens investments for gender equality 112
Michele Ruiters and Motshedisi Mathibe
7 Two kinds of time: the Chinese–Kenyan infrastructure disconnect 136
Arielle S. Emmett
8 Ongoing technological innovation in the home: a blessing or a curse? 155
Alet C. Erasmus
9 Can digital technologies help Africa to leapfrog its massive education gap? 171
Ali Parry and Wilma Viviers
10 Digital leadership skills that South African leaders require for
successful digital transformation 184
Asmitha Tiekam and Hugh Myres
11 Legal leapfrogging? Legal system and rule of law effects on
cross-listing to bond by emerging-market firms 207
Joel Malen, Paul M. Vaaler, and Ivy Zhang
12 How intellectual property regimes and innovative infrastructure
promote growth of Africa’s technological market 245
Ashley Elizabeth Sperbeck
13 Africa’s post-pandemic economic recovery: catch up, don’t give up 268
Lyal White, Liezl Rees, and Nikitta Hahn
Index
