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Purpose: The paper investigates the role of corporate governance on the relationship between small businesses financing choice decisions on the business performance. Design/methodology/approach: The paper was situated within the theory of the financial growth cycle and adopted survey approach for data collection and analysis done through partial least square structural equation modelling. Findings: The study found that the interaction of corporate governance and financing choice decisions strengthen the performance relationship. Further, corporate governance mediates the positive relationship between financing choice decisions and performance. Thus, suggesting that corporate governance can carry the effect of the financing choice decisions to performance. Originality: The study contributes to the small business financing choice and performance literature by employing the financial growth cycle theory in explaining the financing choice decisions and in particular the role of corporate governance in the relationship.

Chinese-African business relationships has become a major topic of academic relevance recently. This paper presents a systematic review of the relevant extant literature on Chinese-African business relationships published in the period 2000-2019. We use the antecedents-strategies-consequences framework for an enhanced appreciation of the subject. The findings suggest that China’s presence in Africa is economically and politically-motivated, with loans, grants, and infrastructure-for-resources as the main strategies to woo the Africans. China is accused of opportunism in Africa, exploiting the continent’s natural-resource base for its domestic use and seeking political support from African nations to drive its global agenda. The study contributes to an improved understanding of the research and provides bases for future researchers to find gaps and add to the knowledge of the subject. Managers and policy-makers from both sides can also use the findings to enhance their strategies and policies respectively.

Micro-women entrepreneurs' (MWEs) engagement in international business has become necessary for developing countries trying to find alternative ways of growing their economies. This article aims to study the entrepreneurial identity and international business opportunity recognition (IBOR) of women-owned Ghanaian small businesses. A qualitative research method was used to collect data from 22 MWEs. The study found an autonomous entrepreneurial identity in addition to know-how transition and solution-seeker entrepreneurs recommended by Owalla and Holmquist (2017). Regarding BOR activities, two new activities vital for entrepreneurial success but not associated with BOR - observing changing trends in their environment and talking to customers about their needs were cited. This study provides meaningful insights into entrepreneurial identities and IBOR of MWEs. The theoretical contribution is in the proposal of a new entrepreneurial identity – autonomous entrepreneurial identity and incorporation of observing changing trends in their environment and talking to customers about their needs into the Kuckertz et al. (2017) model of the dimension of opportunity recognition activities. The paper identified new entrepreneurial identity and IBOR activity relevant to the micro women entrepreneurship literature by studying MWE's micro women.

Studies of internationalisation have largely overlooked developing countries with high levels of legitimate informal entrepreneurship. Consequently, this article analyses the internationalisation of Informal African Firms (IAFs) from a network perspective. We undertook in-depth case studies of 14 informal smaller firms in two major enterprise clusters in Ghana. Our findings show that half transacted business in five to seven foreign markets, and more than half sold abroad within three years of inception. The study illustrates the different network ties that influence passive and active internationalisation strategies with evidence that these IAFs developed buyer networks through customer referrals and foreign customer walk-ins to the firm. Overall, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the triggers that initiate international business activities by IAFs so contribute to current theorising noting implications for management practices and policymaking on this important but hitherto, under-explored issue.

This paper focuses on the roles of institutional actors and their policies in promoting the internationalisation of Ghanaian textile firms. A longitudinal research method was employed with the aim of gaining an understanding of the development of the interrelationships between contexts, processes, actors and their activities and resources over a period of 13 years in order for the SME to internationalise. The findings show complex interrelationships, different roles and a greater importance of institutional actors than has been found in previous research. Furthermore, the findings show how the context of SMEs from emerging markets in Africa affect their internationalisation processes and success and how both home and foreign institutions and policies can contribute to the processes through a business network approach. Theoretically, this study contributes to theories of firm internationalisation from emerging markets. Practically, it provides implications for managers and policy makers about how to achieve and support the internationalisation of African SMEs.

The paper concentrates on research into the internationalisation of emerging market SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). We discuss various conceptual approaches to the internationalisation of SMES, emerging markets, and the African context. Internationalisation theories such as the stage models (e.g. Uppsala and innovation-related models), the business network theories and international new venture approaches are most relevant for SMEs when discussing the role of risk aversion, collaboration, the business context and entrepreneurship for internationalising SMEs. As a specific example, we focus on the textile industry in sub-Saharan Africa. We conclude with proposals for future studies.

Local content defines the extent of participation of local industry in extractive industries like mining, oil and gas. These industries are major destinations of foreign direct investments. They are very important revenue streams for governments of developing and emerging economies. In many countries, however, local industry is not participating enough. Recently researchers are bringing new perspectives into research and policy on the subject. We discuss the issue based on a review of relevant literature including a study in Nigeria in the wake of the passage of the new local content laws. Our study finds that the achievement of local content depends on the collaboration of a range of actors. Local political and legal institutions, local businesses, MNCs, universities and research organizations, international development partners and donors have to contribute their political and economic resources to achieve local content.

Big data is a growing trend in today’s industries as companies take advantage of invaluable insights andopportunities they can acquire about their customers and processes to gain competitive advantage over theircompetitors (Kubina et al., 2015; Hanke, Bughin, Chui, Manyika, Saleh, Wiseman& Sethupathy 2016).The evolution of big data is similar to other disruptive IT innovations that have occurred in the last fourdecades. For example, research suggests that the advent of personal computers, internet and the adoption ofecommerce has lowered operational costs, increased customer satisfaction, led to revenue growth and first-mover competitive advantage for companies that adopted them (Hyma 2015; Luvai & Azim 2003;Sameer &Palo, 2006). Early research on big data suggest that it can offer tangible benefits to businesses across allindustries (McAfee & Brynjolfsson, 2012).The adoption of big data has been conceptualized as anorganizational capability that can provide competitive advantage to organizations in highly dynamic anduncertain environments (Chen, Preston, & Swink,2015; Wang & Hajli, 2017; Fioriniaet al. (2018). As theapplications of big data continue to grow, the opportunities abound, yet a clear understanding of itsapplications, challenges and opportunities across industries requires further empirical studies (See Sena,Demirbag, Bhaumik, & Sengupta, 2017).

This study investigates the factors affecting Bharti Airtel's cross-border postacquisition performance in an African market. This study describes the relationships among various factors such as technical capability, affiliated firm's absorptive capacity, and organizational learning capabilities, which determine the successful operations of the Zain acquisition deal in South Africa. This paper adopts a qualitative approach to identify factors that influence the postacquisition performance. Seven factors are identified based on the literature. Consequently, it has become a necessity to encapsulate these factors in suitable proportions. In this study, we have developed a total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) to analyze the postacquisition performance of Bharti Airtel in South Africa. Our research has highlighted six dynamic factors (organizational learning capability, knowledge management, technology capability, technology relatedness, acquirer's absorptive capacity, and national culture difference) that affect the firm's postacquisition performance. The interpretive structural model (ISM) and total interpretive structural model for postacquisition performance are built-up. The developed TISM will support academics and practitioners to develop their understanding of acquisition performance of parent companies in the context of telecom business in the South African market.

While the interest in investing in Africa is rising, the know-how of business on the continent is very limited. There have been only recently few special issues focusing on sub-Saharan Africa in the top international business journals: "Sub-Saharan Africa at a key inflection point" (Thunderbird International Business Review 2009); "Contemporary developments in the management of human resources in Africa" (Journal of World Business 2011); "Contemporary challenges and opportunities of doing business in Africa" (Journal of Technological Forecasting and Social Change 2016); "Critical perspectives on international business in Africa (Critical Perspectives on International Business 2016); "Strategic Management in Africa (Global Strategy Journal, 2017); and "The internationalization of African firms (Thunderbird International Business Review 2016). The aim of this special issue is to advance understanding of international business in Africa and specifically focus on how foreign firms enter African markets via acquisitions and international joint ventures and extend knowledge of these market entry strategies and performance in Africa for research and for foreign firms intending to, or currently doing business in Africa. This guest editorial provides a summary of the five articles and one book review in this special issue categorized into three broad thematic issues: International joint ventures and acquisitions as market entry strategies in Africa; cross-border investments of African firms; and theoretical underpinnings.

This study reviewed the research on international joint ventures (IJVs) in Africa up to 2017. The authors performed a systematic search of peer-reviewed good-quality research using the 6W procedure and ensured the quality of the review by using the 5Cs quality criteria. The content analysis was focused on four research questions. A total of 22 relevant studies were found. Overall, only about one-third of the lead authors were affiliated with African universities. A majority of the studies were quantitative, and 78% of the studies were done for three countries: Ghana, Morocco, and Nigeria. There was either just one or no study on trust and conflict, partner selection, and human resource management (HRM). At the contextual level, it seems the most important factor influencing IJV strategy and success is institutions. We therefore suggest a greater use of institutional theory. Finally, we present a summary of conceptual framework and four propositions to guide future research.

The objective of the study is to explore how acquisition integration capabilities are developed in acquiring firms. Through empirical case studies of acquisitions of five Finnish MNEs in global markets, the study finds four determinants of acquisition integration capability: acquisition integration knowledge management, cultural competence, acquisition integration strategy, and acquisition performance review. The study extends dynamic capability theory to acquisition integration literature and provides a comprehensive and integrated perspective on the determinants of acquisition integration capability. Finally, five propositions are developed for future empirical research and we call for future studies to explore how acquisition integration capabilities become dynamic using longitudinal research design.

Business-to-Business Marketing: An African Perspective: How to Understand and Succeed in Business Marketing in an Emerging Africa is a comprehensive application of the most current research results, concepts and frameworks to the African business-to-business (B-to-B) context. The chapters are designed to provide the reader with a thorough analysis of b-to-b. Important aspects like competitive strategy in B-to-B, marketing mix strategies, relationship management and collaboration, business services, big data analysis, and emerging issues in B-to-B are discussed with African examples and cases. As a result, the book is easy to read and pedagogical. It is suitable for courses at universities and other tertiary levels, undergraduate and graduate courses, MBA and professional B-to-B marketing programmes. Working managers will find it a useful reference for practical insights and as a useful resource to develop and implement successful strategies. The AuthorsCollectively the four authors have over 60 years of teaching and research in B-to-B marketing and management in and outside Africa. They have the managerial and consulting experience that has enabled them to combine theory with practice. Their experience and knowledge provide the needed background to uniquely integrate teaching and research with the realities of the African B-to-B market. Their command of and insight into the subject are unparalleled.