Henley Research page

Sense-making for better business

True to the mission of Henley Business School Africa – we build the people, who build the businesses, that build Africa – our diverse body of academics and practitioners are working at the forefront of business and management practice to foster sense-making capabilities that benefit our students, clients, partners, and broader society.

Our research strengths span several broad themes:

- Reputation
- Leadership
- International business
- Consumer behaviour within an African context
- Immersive learning (Virtual reality)

Strength in numbers

As an international business school Henley Africa is automatically well-connected into a global research agenda. Our researchers are collaborating with peers at institutions around the world as well as with those at other South African and African institutions.

We also work with our clients and other businesses and organisations in our networks to ensure that our research is applied and relevant to today’s business context.

Current collaborators include:

- The University of Johannesburg (South Africa)
- University of Stellenbosch (South Africa)
- GIBS (South Africa)
- North West University (South Africa)
- Eastern Michigan University (United States of America)
- Korea University at Sejong (South Korea)
- University of Minho (Portugal)
- CLADEA (Peru)
- Jőnkőping International Business School (Sweden)

Research centres

John Madejski Centre for Reputation Africa

A sister centre of the John Madejski Centre for Reputation, focused on building sustainability and societal impact with respect to reputation and relationships in African businesses.

Henley Africa Centre for Leadership

A sister centre of the Henley Centre for Leadership, focused on recognising, developing, transforming, and sustaining positive and optimistic leadership in Africa.

Dunning Africa Centre

Straddling the fields of international business, strategic management, innovation, and human resource management in African businesses.

Centre for Emerging Market Consumer Studies

A Henley Africa research centre focused on studying and understanding consumer behaviour of African consumers

Henley Explore - Immersive Cases and Immersive Experiences

A unique immersive case centre that is focused on producing case studies and immersive experiences accompanied by virtual reality (VR) films that provide delegates with an unbeatable immersive experience.

Our outputs

Our publishing record is growing! We provide our researchers lots of support to hone their research, writing, and publishing skills to produce relevant and insightful research that advances African knowledge and helps our students learn better.

Journal articles and conference proceedings

Recent publications include an article published by E Van Tonder and D Petzer (2022) in European Business Review, entitled Factors promoting customer citizenship behaviours and the moderating role of self-monitoring: a study of ride-hailing services, and an article in the International Journal of Anthropology, by L Spini and A Innes. (2022) on: Johnny Clegg: a polycultural anthropologist on stage for social justice.

View journal articles and conference proceedings here.

Explore our latest outputs here:

White Papers

White papers

The effective use of VR in business school education

By Ms Louise Claassen and Ms Cara Bouwer

Deliberate collaboration

By Dr Julian Day

From rigidity to resonance

By Mr Barry van Zyl and Ms Cara Bouwer

Amplifying the impact of African business schools

By Dean Jon Foster-Pedley and Ms Cara Bouwer

View All White Papers

Study with us

If you are creative and curious and would like to work alongside distinguished, research-led academics and thought leaders in our postgraduate research programmes please get in touch. We offer an academically rigorous PhD programme and DBA (Doctor of Business Administration). Throughout your studies you will benefit from dedicated supervision, impressive facilities and high-quality support. Our learning approach aims to expand and broaden your outlook, deepen your knowledge and develop you personally. You will have the opportunity to contribute to teaching and research activities within the business school and engage in academic events held here at Henley and around the world.

Customise a Programme

Creating positive change through business

The Renewal Foundation is sponsoring an annual award for the best Henley Business School Africa Management Research Challenge (MRC) project focusing on how teams and organisations can make a positive difference in addressing the climate and ecological crisis. The award is supporting the further development and implementation of the MRC project, with both a financial award of £2 500 and free mentoring support for the winner.

Meet your alumni chapter team

Melody Xaba

Director & Co-Founder of My Future Work

Melody is a Director & Co-Founder of My Future Work, a Learning & Development agency specialising in creating digital upskilling/reskilling solutions for the workforce. She serves in the MICT-SETA 4IR Committee, advising in the labour cohort. She was named Mail & Guardian Young 200 in 2019; won a Veuve Cliquot Elle Boss Award in 2018 and awarded the Henley Business School Johnny Clegg MBA Scholarship in 2018. Melody is also a professional speaker, advocating for the digital skills development of the African workforce, to positively impact our economy and improve the living conditions of our citizens.

Connect with Melody

African knowledge for the world

Sense-making for better business

Strength in numbers

Research centres

Our outputs

Explore our latest outputs here:

White papers

Study with us

Creating positive change through business

Meet your alumni chapter team

Connect with us

Prof Daniel Petzer

Zara Cupido

We are accredited by the leading UK, European, US and African accrediting bodies: