South African management literature over the past fifteen years: Content analysis of the three top South African management journals

E Botha,N Lilford,L Pitt

doi:10.4102/sajbm.v42i4.508

Abstract

This article analysed 15 years, from 1996 to 2010, of research published in the three leading South African business management journals. The three journals chosen were the South African Journal of Business Management, the South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences and Management Dynamics. Content analysis was used to compare five broad themes in the journals: firstly the nature of authorship was examined, and then the most published as well as most prolific authors were identified. Thirdly, the most prominent universities and departments were identified whereafter the research themes and disciplines of the articles and authors were analysed. Lastly, various manuscript characteristics were investigated. This article provides a clear picture of the evolution of South African management literature over the past fifteen years.

Highlights

It is important for both business management researchers and those who evaluate them to have an up to date picture of the forum available for scholarly discourse
Publications in the three top South African management journals were analysed in order to obtain a broad picture of the current state of the art: the South African Journal of Business Management (SAJBM), the South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences (SAJEMS) and Management Dynamics (MD)
This systematic review of South African business and management journals plays a critical role in benchmarking these journals against international and other highly rated journals

Summary

Introduction

It is important for both business management researchers and those who evaluate them to have an up to date picture of the forum available for scholarly discourse. One means of assessing the nature of a field is to evaluate the communication system available to scholars in that discipline where books, journal articles and conference proceedings serve as primary communication channels for researchers (Holsapple, Johnson, Manakyan & Tanner, 1993). Holsapple et al (1993) further state that it is important to periodically take stock of channels available for communicating scholarly discourse and research. It is essential that both academics and administrators be familiar with the differences among the forums available for publishing scholarly research (Holsapple et al, 1993). The purpose of this study was to gain a broad overview of the development of management research in South Africa over the past fifteen years

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Conclusion