MNM3AR: Africa Rising

Module code: MNM3AR

Module provider: International Business and Strategy; Henley Business School

Credits: 10

Level: Postgraduate Masters Stage 3

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Mr Francois Ameguide, email: f.ameguide@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students:

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The purpose of this elective is to break down the complexities and uncertainties associated with doing business in Africa and create some mutual understanding of the continent, its regions and its people.

Africa is home to a population estimated at 1.4bn, an estimated 3,300 ethnic groups speaking over 2,100 different languages.  The continent stretches across six time zones and over an area of 30 million square kilometres, only second to Asia in terms of size.

Furthermore, Africa is also the second fastest urbanising region after Asia. According to an African Union Commission and OECD report, 50% of Africans are expected to reside in urban areas by 2035.

The topics that will be covered in the elective are sustainable development, the current state of Africa, regionalisation, funding and governance, culture and ethics, aid, democracy, megatrends and the future of Africa.

Aims:
This module will provide programme members the knowledge and understanding of Africa as continent and an emerging market and how to initiate and conduct business in this growing market.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

• Understanding of the complexity and integrated nature of the African continent through systemic thinking.

• Have the ability to do an assessment on a macro and micro level of a country in Africa, taking into account all the important concepts related to the continent.

• Manage complex projects using creative problem solving.

• Close the perception gaps and shift perspectives about the environment of business in Africa.

Module content

Outline content

Pre-work:

Virtual orientation and delegate engagement via online platforms through:

• pre-reading,

• posting pictures that epitomise Africa for you,

• information on visiting Africa before, when and where,

• what do you want to learn from the module?

Session 1:

Managing complex projects using creative problem solving

Purpose: assist in framing the programme assignment challenge upfront

Outcome: STUDENTS’s start an ideation process on qualifying a business opportunity in a region or country in Africa

Session 2 – 6:

Understanding and internalising the unique concepts related to Africa

Concept 1: Sustainable development:

• Growth, demography, urbanisation, partnerships, stability, competitive advantage

One of the biggest challenges that the African continent faces is how to obtain and maintain sustainable development. Most of the countries on the African continent are developing countries, striving towards sustainable development.

Concept 2: The current state of Africa:

The current reality of Africa includes dealing with its colonial past, its economic history, new recolonisation and the role of China in Africa, trade blocks in Africa and shifts in economic power. When doing business in Africa it is very important to understand the current state of the relevant country as well as understanding the dynamics of the continent.

Concept 3: Regionalisation:

Within the context of sustainable development, regionalisation and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) play a very important role in Africa. In addition, the AfCFTA provides an opportunity to create the largest single market in the world with a combined GDP of US$3.4 trillion according to the World Bank. Africa is divided into Northern, Western, Central, Eastern and Southern regions and each region has unique features. 

Concept 4: Funding and governance

Funding and the role of donors play an integral part in Africa. Disintegration and restoration of authority is key to growth in Africa. Other important focuses: donor agencies, commercial development financial institutions, new funding agencies and new forms of commercial projects.

Concept 5: Culture and ethics

When doing business in Africa, an organisation needs to understand the culture and the ethics of the country they are dealing with deeply. Successful businesses dealing in Africa all say that “culture and ethics” is the key to success on the continent.

Concept 6: Aid:

The role of aid in support of the economic, environmental, social, and political development in Africa is very contested today, and warrants an in-depth discussion on its impact on the African continent. On the African continent this concept is integral to culture and existence, but also misused by many role players.

Concept 7: Democratic in Africa: 

The political ideology that many African countries strive towards is democracy. Totalitarianism, autocracy and even anarchy is still present in a number of countries. It is important to understand the political economy of a country and region you are doing business with. Issues of democratic reform are critical in enhancing development particularly in the developing world.

Concept 8: Megatrends and the future of Africa

An examination of the driving forces shaping the future of Africa. Forces such as demographic growth, urbanisation, climate change and digital transformation. A link is also established with all the key concepts described in the previous topics to understand the complexity and unique intricacies of Africa and ask where Africa is heading.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is offered online through RISIS and Blackboard. Reading material and video material will be placed online and the learner will work through it as self-study.

The ideation approach will be utilised to do the assignment as assessment. Video talks will be provided to describe the approach. Gamification will form the basis of the programme design.

The concepts will be taught through case studies, lecturers giving the theoretical background and businesspeople sharing their success stories.

Study hours

At least At least 100 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module. Please note that the hours listed below are indicative and for guidance purposes only. hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

50%

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Feedback provided online with contributions weekly.  

Reassessment

Additional costs