About Dr Augustus E. Osseo-Asare
I joined the University in 2005 after receiving an MBA, Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methodology, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Management from the University of Derby.
Prior to teaching and researching strategy, I worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry in Ghana, West Africa, first as the Research and Development Officer and later as the Production and Factory Manager. I also worked in the manufacturing and retail sectors in the UK.
I am an active member of the British Academy of Management (BAM), the Strategic Management Society (SMS), the Academy of International Business, and a Fellow of the UK's Higher Education Academy (HEA).
I am passionate about exploring the degree of applicability of strategy theories and practices in different cultural settings, and the development of eclectic strategy frameworks which better reflect the socio-cultural context of developing countries, in particular Sub-Saharan African countries.
Teaching and supervision
I teach Global Corporate Strategy across a number of postgraduate courses, including the MBA and MSc Finance and Management.
I am actively involved in master's Dissertation supervision.
In addition, I am the Director of Studies for a number of doctoral students on PhD/DBA/DProf courses researching strategy in theory and practice in both developed and developing countries with a focus on Sub-Saharan African countries.
Interests
My research interests cover a wide range of strategy issues relating to strategy formation, strategic change and innovation processes – in an international or global context.
My most recent successful PhD completions examined strategy from multiple perspectives eg impact of macro-environmental factors on FDI inflows to the manufacturing sector; adaptive, absorptive and innovative dynamic capabilities as sources of sustainable competitive advantage in the financial services sector; strategic change management in maritime crude oil transportation; corporate governance and stakeholder interests in the Nigerian crude oil sector; and retail internationalisation. These studies made use of qualitative and/or quantitative methods, including the use of SPSS and NVivo analytical software for data analysis.
Research
- Strategy and Strategists in Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) – What do CEOs, Strategic Managers or Strategic Leaders actually do in practice? A focus on strategy-as-practice (SAP) perspective.
- Exploring the adaptive, absorptive and innovative dynamic capabilities adopted by Multinational Corporations (MNCs) operating in developing countries, focusing on MNCs operating in Sub-Saharan African countries.
- Food retail internationalisation in developing economies: integrating internal and external resources relating to closed and open innovations.
- Corporate governance, strategic leadership and the paradox of corporate profitability and corporate social responsibility – a focus on MNCs operating in the extractive, manufacturing and service sectors in Sub-Saharan African economies.
Successful PhD/DBA completions as Director of Studies:
- Dr Eziashi M. Ifeanyi: Exploration and Evaluation of the Macro-environmental factors influencing Firm Competitiveness in the Nigerian Manufacturing Industry (PhD, University of Sunderland, 2017).
- Dr Oghenetega Origho: Sustaining Competitive Advantage through Service Quality Management: A Case Study of the Nigerian Financial Industry (PhD, University of Sunderland, 2017).
- Dr David Cliff: The Lived Experience of Police and Crime Commissioners in the Early Years of their Tenure in England and Wales: How do PCCs see their Leadership Role? (DBA, University of Sunderland, 2017)
- Dr Akinseye O. Aluko: Strategic Change Management in the Maritime Crude Oil Transportation Industry in Nigeria (PhD. University of Sunderland, 2017)
- Dr William L. Herdman (posthumous): Barriers to Growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the North East of England (PhD University of Sunderland, 2010)
- Dr Chia-Shu Lin: An Empirical Cross-Sectional Survey of Food Retail Internationalisation in Taiwanese Hyper-, Super- and Traditional Markets (PhD University of Sunderland, 2009)
Current PhD Supervisions as Director of Studies:
- Agon Sopa Retail Internationalisation: A Case Study of a Firm in Kosovo (University of Sunderland, 2017).
- Emeke Nweke Business Strategies for Survival and Growth of SMEs in the Restaurant Industry in Nigeria (University of Sunderland, 2013).
- Robert Okere Corporate Governance Practices of Crude Oil Firms in the Niger Delta and Stakeholders Benefits (University of Sunderland, 2013).
- Anita Aggarwal Developing a Strategic Framework for Transnational Education (TNE) in Kenya (University of Sunderland, 2010).
Areas of expertise
My research on strategy focuses on contemporary perspectives on strategy eg strategy-as-practice (SAP), and seeks to explore and evaluate what CEOs, strategic managers and leaders actually do when engaged in the process of strategy formation, strategic change and strategic innovation.
I am essentially a pragmatist researcher who seeks to address specific research questions for a particular piece of study. As such, I am comfortable using quantitative or qualitative methods or a mix of both methods, in any sequence, as part of a well thought through process of triangulation. I therefore welcome doctoral students who seek to adopt qualitative, quantitative or mixed methodologies.
Further information
- Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (HEA)
- Member of the British Academy of Management (BAM)
- Member of the Strategic Management Society (SMS)
- Member of the Academy of International Business (AIB)
- Life Member of the University of Ghana