Author Guidelines
FACULTY OF BUSINESS
2015 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRANSFORMING and GROWING ECONOMIES THROUGH SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS INNOVATION
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Faculty of Business at the University of Botswana invites you to its 3rd biennial Conference.
THEME: Transforming and Growing Economies through Sustainable Business Innovation
CONFERENCE DATES: 08th, 9th and 10th July 2015
CONFERENCE VENUE
Botswana is located in the heart of Southern Africa, bordered by Zambia and Zimbabwe to the northeast, Namibia to the northwest, and South Africa to the south and southeast. Botswana is a shining example of an African success story economically, politically, and culturally. Botswana is an unspoiled land of timeless beauty - striking salt pans, diamond-rich deserts, fertile flood plains, vast grasslands, and flatlands punctuated with dramatic rocky outcrops. Our country's natural appeal lies in its stunning and seemingly endless wilderness, prolific wildlife, cultural diversity, and welcoming people. Botswana is truly one of Africa's top safari destinations, home to the world renowned Okavango Delta, Kalahari Desert, the Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve. http://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/index.php.
The conference will be held in Maun. Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta which has been recently listed as the 1000th UNESCO World heritage site.
CONFERENCE WEBSITE: http://www.ub.bw/ocs/index.php/fobconference2015
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 28th February 2015
PAPER SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 31st March 2015
CONFERENCE AIMS
The conference aims to bring together academics, government policy makers, business entrepreneurs, and top management practitioners, from all parts of the globe to discuss the challenges of attracting, establishing and managing businesses in an increasingly globalised and crisis world. In addition, the conference will stimulate thinking in the adoption of new information technologies that present new market opportunities and innovative ways of increasing business performance as well as creating value for customers, shareholders and other key stakeholders. Contemporary strategies, reforms and renewal of managerial practices in an effort to enhance African integration will also inform discussions at presentations. New networks and strategic alliances for development of global managerial practice and theory will equally be explored.
CONFERENCE TRACKS
The conference is organized into ten tracks. We therefore invite conference submissions from scholars, researchers, business practitioners and international agencies. Submissions should cover conceptual, theoretical and empirical investigations that adopt different methodologies and address any relevant management issue of concern.
Track 1: Organization and Management:
Track sub-themes
- Industrial relations & welfare
- Corporate social responsibility
- Women in business
- Managing people in organisations
- Project management
- Leadership (Change, Entrepreneurship, etc.)
- Intellectual property & ownership
- Performance management and productivity
- Business incubation and mentorship
Track 2: Finance, Accounting and Taxation:
Track sub-themes
- Risk and Insurance issues
- Financial Regulations and market discipline
- Corporate Governance
- The Global Finance Development
- Accounting for value in business
- Micro-finance challenges and business development
- Intellectual capital accounting and management
- Tax and Auditing Issues
- Financial integration
- Capital markets
- International accounting standards
- Money Laundering and Combating Financial Crime
Track 3: Marketing:
Track sub-themes
- Marketing strategy
- Marketing & consumer well-being
- Sports marketing
- Social media marketing
- Non-profit marketing
- Health marketing
- Traditional & contemporary marketing communication issues
- Responsible consumption and future developments
- Marketing to vulnerable & rural communities
- Retailing: growth prospects & challenges
- Agricultural marketing & rural development
- E-marketing
- Branding
Track 4: Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management:
Track sub-themes
- Tourism, diversification & economic growth
- Tourism management
- Hospitality Management
- Tourism and the society
- Tourism and the environment
- Natural resource management
- Event Management
- Sports Tourism
Track 5: Information Technology & Innovation:
Track sub-themes
- ICT Infrastructure and development
- The implications of ICT in business development
- ICT in SMMEs
- E-Culture Community
- Human and Societal Issues in Information Systems
- Cybercrime and ICT security issues
- Web applications in Organisations
- Enterprise Systems and Extended Enterprise
Track 6: Globalisation and Economic Sustainability:
Track sub-themes
- Innovation for Economic reform
- International business management strategies
- Business Internationalization and Innovation
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Sustainability & Diversification
Track 7: Knowledge Management and Innovation:
Track sub-themes
- Knowledge Management
- Managing Research and Development
- Product Innovation & development
- Business innovation and creativity
- ICT innovation and Business Development
- Knowledge and Innovation management
- Indigenous Innovation
Track 8: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and GEM:
Track sub-themes
- Entrepreneurship Education
- Entrepreneurial Leaders
- Business Incubation & Mentorship
- Women in Business
- Agri-business
- GEM
Track 9: Government and Innovation:
Track sub-themes
- Beneficiation and Citizen empowerment
- Regulatory Environment
- Policies Enabling Innovation
- E-Governance
Track 10: Mining
Track sub-themes
- Beneficiation
- Mine Fracking
- Innovation in Mining
- Downstream Benefits on Mining
- Mining and Corporate Social Responsibility
Track 11: Miscellaneous papers:
Track sub-themes
- Research Methodologies
- Importance and Relevance of Postgraduate Programmes
GENERAL GUIDELINES
- All paper submissions will be blind peer -reviewed
- Two categories of paper presentation will be accepted, these are:
- Refereed research papers: Papers submitted into this category should be those where the research work or conceptual/theoretical development has been completed. Authors should submit up to a 5,000 word-paper.
- Working papers: Working papers could be reports, proposals for future research or those for which a substantial amount of the research work or conceptual/theoretical development has already been completed. Authors should submit a 1,300-1,500 word paper, which will be reviewed by the Co-chair for presentation BUT NOT publication.
- All refereed research papers will be published as conference proceedings.
- The best research papers will be considered for publication in Botswana Journal of Business.
- All papers must be original submissions that have not already been published.
- If after evaluation/review and acceptance, you do not wish to publish your full paper, your choice must be clearly communicated to the conference organizer. In which case a two page summary must be submitted for publication after the full paper has been reviewed and accepted
- A maximum of two papers may be presented by one individual and paper reading is NOT allowed.
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Format and style
Manuscripts should be in English (preferably UK) and typed (double spaced, except for tables where single spacing is acceptable) with margin of 1.5 inches at the top, bottom, right and left of every page on one side international A4 bond paper. Tabs should be for indents, not spaces. Font used must be Times New Roman Size 12.
The first page (title page) should contain the tittle of the paper, the names, addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers and email address of the authors, with an indication of the name to whom decisions should be sent.
Abstract
The second page should include the paper’s title and an abstract of not more than 200 words. The abstract should be an accurate representation of the paper’s contents. Major results, conclusions, and/or recommendations should be given with brief details of methods, etc. There should be no indication (other than on the title page) of the identity of the author(s) or the author’s (or authors’) affiliation
Headings
First heading of the body is INTRODUCTION (centered, bold, all caps)
Text follows, using appropriate major headings (centered, bold, all caps) where necessary
Secondary headings are left-justified, bold, first letter of each major word capitalized, with a space above and below the heading. The paper should include the following sections: literature review, methodology, findings, discussion and conclusions.
Tables and Figures: All figures and tables should be given titles, numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals, and referred to within the text.
Keywords: Up to six keywords or descriptors that clearly describe the subject matter of the paper should be provided.
References: Citations in the text should follow the Harvard scheme (i.e. names) of author(s); followed by the year of publication and page numbers where relevant, all in parenthesis.
For journals:
Churchill, G., A., and George, G. P. (1979). “Television and Interpersonal Influences on Adolescent Consumer Learning.” Journal of Consumer Research 6 (2): 23-35.
Internet Articles:
Marshall, A. (1890). Principles of economics: an introductory volume, McMaster University, Canada. Retrieved on 7 Nov. 2006 from http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/economics/-
marshall/index.htm.
For books:
Zeleny, M. (1982). Multiple Criteria Decision Making. New York: McGraw-Hill.
For a thesis:
Gartside, S. (1994). Helplessness and depression. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, McGill University, Montreal.
For papers from conference proceedings, chapters from book etc.:
Gee, K.P. and Gray, R.H. (Eds.) (1990). The British Accounting Review Research Register. London: Academic Press.
Acknowledgements: Should appear at the end of the paper before the list of references.
Footnotes
Should be kept to minimum and appear at the end of the paper on a separate page.
Mathematical notations
Mathematical notations should only be used if they contribute significantly to the clarity and economy of presentation, or are essential to the arguments of the paper. Wherever possible, authors should put mathematical calculations in an appendix. The conclusions of the articles using mathematical notations should be summarized in a form that is intelligible to non-mathematical readers of the journal.
CONFERENCE FEES in USA Dollars $
- Early bird Registration fee [on or before February 28, 2015]: $375.00
- Late Registration [after April 30, 2015] $400.00
- Students (fee does not include a copy of the conference proceedings) $200.00
- Students will be requested to produce identity of studentship during registration.
The conference fee includes the following:
- Registration
- Morning and afternoon refreshments, lunch, and the gala dinner.
- Conference materials and a USB containing the conference proceedings (full length competitive papers and two page summaries in cases where the author(s) do not wish to publish the full paper).
For any inquiries, please contact the conference secretariat at FOBconference2015@mopipi.ub.bw
