Management Challenges for Africa in the Twenty-First Century

Book excerpt: Edoho and his contributors examine the management challenges facing African governments and businesses on the eve of a new millennium. As the authors make clear, Africa's future is defined by how Africa does in the 21st century. For Africa, a major challenge is how to effectively and efficiently manage its vast wealth. Africa is not poor because it is poor—it is poor because it cannot manage its development process. The shortages of managerial knowledge, skills, and talents are pervasive. Consequently, the region lacks the ability to organize production and run operations effectively and efficiently. The task of developing managerial manpower in Africa is not only imperative, it is urgent. After outlining theoretical and applied perspectives on management, the volume examines the public and private sector planning and management. It then explores the globalization of management technology, provides case studies of African management dilemmas, looks at management ethics and morality, and concludes with an analysis of the role of management in African national development. As the authors make clear, abundant resources will not of themselves usher in an African economic renaissance. Africa needs skills to identify and analyze its resources, to undertake investment, and to establish and run all kinds of organizations. Until Africa develops its indigenous managerial talents, development will continue to be elusive, and the process traumatizing. An important resource for scholars, students, and policy makers involved with African economic development.