Customary System and Business Sustainability in Namibia

Abstract

This study examined business sustainability from a sustainability standpoint with a focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and operational perspective by attempting to uncover, for the latter, whether Namibian local businesses would outlive their owners given the customary system in place for managing such businesses. Desktop research showed that Namibian businesses were engaged with issues of promoting indigenous culture, ethical conduct and were socially responsible. However, beneficiaries of the CSR initiatives of one of the corporate players were not impressed with their interventions. Key informants’ interviews with businesspersons revealed that the customary practices were still in place and were combined with modern business operating systems. But the results were mixed with successes and failures recorded for business managed by customary means and those combining both approaches, hence the recommendation for wholesale adoption of modern business management approaches that would result in the best person taking over the reins as opposed to family members.

Citation

Akpabio, E. (2022), "Customary System and Business Sustainability in Namibia", Ogunyemi, K., Ogunyemi, O. and Anozie, A. (Ed.) Responsible Management in Africa, Volume 2: Ethical Work and Sustainability, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 83-91. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-493-220221011