CALL FOR PAPERS
*Ownership Structures and Managerial Challenges in the African Media
and Telecommunications Sectors*
November 8-9, 2018 - University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
*Deadline for abstracts extended to: July 31, 2018*
*/General information and format of the conference/*
The conference addresses ownership structures and managerial practices
within the telecommunications and media sectors in Africa. Seeking not
only to advance research in the field but also to stimulate a
constructive dialogue between practitioners and academics, the
conference dedicates one day to an academic workshop and one day to
professional contributions.
*/Objectives of the conference/*
The conference aims at investigating the impact of varying foreign
ownership and managerial practices on (a) media and telecommunications
policies, and (b) democratic and economic development in African
countries.
Specifically, we seek to understand how and under which conditions
foreign investors can contribute to the African telecommunication
sector as well as media and telecom policies, beyond the mere
financing of media infrastructure. Further, we aim at shedding light
on how foreign investment can help to achieve the related UN
sustainable development goals, thus contribute to the democratic and
economic development of the African continent.
*/Proposed research topics and submission guidelines/*
We are particularly interested in theory-based and empirically sound
submissions related to the conference theme. With a view to
telecommunications and media *in African* countries, *but also in
other developing countries*, research topics include but are not
limited to:
• ownership structures/ foreign direct investment (FDI)
and political and economic developments
• ownership structures/ FDI strategies and effects on
sectoral development, including investment in advanced services needed
by digital media players and diffusion of social media, gaming etc.
• ownership structures/ FDI strategies and
local/indigenous language media development
• ownership structures/ FDI strategies and human resource
management practices
• ownership structures/ FDI strategies and human capital
development
• ownership structures/ FDI strategies and managerial and
digital competence development
• managerial and organizational challenges of FDI
• ownership structures/ FDI strategies and convergence.
To enrich the debate we further welcome contributions by practitioners
that describe, analyze and explain specific cases/experiences related
to the above mentioned domains.
After the conference authors of selected submissions will have the
opportunity to submit their full manuscript for publication as part of
a special issue of a journal or in an edited conference volume.
*/Timeline/*
• Please send your *abstract* (max. 500 word) describing
research questions, theoretical framework, method, expected outcomes
and relation with topics addressed in this call to
(cinzia.dalzotto /at/ unine.ch) <mailto:(cinzia.dalzotto /at/ unine.ch)> by *July
31, 2018*.
• Notifications of acceptance will be sent out on August
10, 2018.
• Full papers will be due by October 10, 2018.
*/Contact/*
If you have any questions, please contact (cinzia.dalzotto /at/ unine.ch)
<mailto:(cinzia.dalzotto /at/ unine.ch)> or (aicha.hammami /at/ unine.ch)
<mailto:(aicha.hammami /at/ unine.ch)>
*For more information please visit the conference website:*
http://www.unine.ch/africamedia/home.html
