Towards a Regional Ontology of Management Education in Africa: A Complexity Leadership Theory Perspective

Abstract

The title of this critique, “Complexity Leadership Theory: A Critique and a Quest for a Regional Ontology to Management Education?” seeks to capture a paradox in the prescriptive nature and universalistic leaning of current leadership theories; yet local realities may call for being cognizant of (possible extant) regional ontologies. The argumentation and analysis developed in this article provide a synthesis of ideas from a review of literature to evolve a preliminary regional ontology for re-orienting business and management education to be relevant for Africa. By critiquing and building on the foundations of Complexity Leadership Theory (CLT), the article recommends an Afro-centric regional ontology for strengthening business and management education anchored on four themes: ethical and moral engagement, entrepreneurial leadership, Ubuntu and local National Systems of Innovation (NSI). These ideas are tentative, and can preliminary be considered as a foundation to inform further inquiry into how business and management education in African can be better interpreted and legitimized in the behavioral sciences. From an Afro-centric perspective, conceptualizing and maintaining the logic of leadership is not only desirable, but also imperative to evolve a regional ontology of leadership that takes into account the Afro-centric realities. Of course we recognize that these defining rationalities are not unique to Africa, but that said, a regional perspective that is unique to Africa cannot continue to be ignored, but should find their place in discourses about leadership in the 21st century. The synthesis and narrative presented in this paper, concisely summarizes and provides traction on how to advance business and management education in Africa.