14.0 What Needs to be Done - Producing Useable Knowledge: Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in Africa
14.0 What Needs to be Done - Producing Useable Knowledge: Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in Africa
Producing Useable Knowledge
Table 1 summarizes key correlates of entrepreneurial success and failure in Africa as they relate to the entrepreneur, the entrepreneurial firm, and the external environment. Taken together, these factors provide a holistic entrepreneurial knowledge system, which, if taken seriously, should guide future research, public policy, and support programs. At the outset, we need to heed the advice of dedicated researchers of African entrepreneurship. For example, Frese's (2000) suggestions for further research; McGrath and King's (1999) call for learning to grow by emphasizing the importance of education and training, and Mead and Liedholm's (1998) implications of what is known for entrepreneurial policies and projects must be taken seriously.
Also, we need to address what Pfeffer and Sutton (1999) call the knowingdoing gap. There is a need for closer working relationship and better communication between researchers, the political and civic leadership, policy makers, financial institutions and the front-line entrepreneurs. The research findings need to be written without jargon and the most promising and useable research findings should be translated into key African languages. Foreign researchers should ensure local ownership of research findings, and avoid doing extractive research (Kiggundu, 1989). For example, Frese (2000) and his associates should have provided evidence of how they made sure that the results of their research were made locally useable. The African entrepreneurial research community must learn to produce useful and useable knowledge (Kilmann, Thomas, Slevin, Nath, & Jerrell, 1983).
140 What Needs to be Done Producing Useable Knowledge Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in Africa - To learn more about this author, visit Journal of Development Entrepreneurship's Website.
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(Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, Oct 2002 by Kiggundu, Moses N)
Producing Useable Knowledge
Table 1 summarizes key correlates of entrepreneurial success and failure in Africa as they relate to the entrepreneur, the entrepreneurial firm, and the external environment. Taken together, these factors provide a holistic entrepreneurial knowledge system, which, if taken seriously, should guide future research, public policy, and support programs. At the outset, we need to heed the advice of dedicated researchers of African entrepreneurship. For example, Frese's (2000) suggestions for further research; McGrath and King's (1999) call for learning to grow by emphasizing the importance of education and training, and Mead and Liedholm's (1998) implications of what is known for entrepreneurial policies and projects must be taken seriously.
Also, we need to address what Pfeffer and Sutton (1999) call the knowingdoing gap. There is a need for closer working relationship and better communication between researchers, the political and civic leadership, policy makers, financial institutions and the front-line entrepreneurs. The research findings need to be written without jargon and the most promising and useable research findings should be translated into key African languages. Foreign researchers should ensure local ownership of research findings, and avoid doing extractive research (Kiggundu, 1989). For example, Frese (2000) and his associates should have provided evidence of how they made sure that the results of their research were made locally useable. The African entrepreneurial research community must learn to produce useful and useable knowledge (Kilmann, Thomas, Slevin, Nath, & Jerrell, 1983).
140 What Needs to be Done Producing Useable Knowledge Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in Africa - To learn more about this author, visit Journal of Development Entrepreneurship's Website.
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Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
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Stephanie RobeyStephanie Robey is President and CoFounder of Pivot Positive, LLC - an Internet marketing business focused on helping people start work at home ventures. Previously, she was employed at The Search Agency with over 20 years experience in graphic design and 10 years experience in online marketing. She was responsible for launching the Conversion Path Optimization (CPO) unit where she and her team have conducted hundreds of optimization tests for online companies across multiple verticals. She is a successful entrepreneur having started and sold 2 companies and remains on the board of directors of the third, PhotoSpin.com Stephanie began her career in the direct marketing realm creating and producing direct mail for many of the major cable television companies and directly attributes her understanding of Internet marketing to those early offline experiences. Stephanie is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BFA in Graphic Arts and also holds an Executive MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. Read Steph's Blog Meet Steph and Dave Sign up for our Free 7-Day BootCamp: Self Employed & Rich - Visit Stephanie Robey's Website |
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Jay Kubassek(Jay's Full Bio: EvanCarmichael.com/jaykubassek) In five years, Canadian-born entrepreneur Jay Kubassek went from selling mufflers at a Midas franchise to revolutionizing Internet marketing with the 2004 launch of CarbonCopyPRO, a online marketing education company, now worth over $20 million with customers in over 160 countries.
As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)
Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper. Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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