Case research at the GSB is a highly active and vibrant part of our research goals. The Case Writing Centre produces excellent teaching cases that reflect the African and emerging market context. Our vision is to bring the relevance and strength of local business lessons to life. We profile leading and startup businesses and explore actual, complex situations and how to best address them. Our cases also boast informative and in-depth teaching notes. We are passionate about creating local and current case material for MBA students.
GSB’s Specialized Research Centers:
ALLAN GRAY CENTRE FOR VALUES-BASED LEADERSHIP
The Allan Gray Centre for Values-Based Leadership is dedicated to exploring new ways of doing business based on purpose, sustainability and responsible practices that create dignity and belonging. We ask difficult questions about the assumptions supporting our current business management models – specifically whether profit and shareholder value should continue to be the exclusive drivers of business, or whether values, purpose and meaning might be more effective drivers for the 21st Century.
BERTHA CENTRE FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the UCT GSB is a globally ranked centre of excellence dedicated to advancing social innovation and entrepreneurship. The first academic centre of its kind in Africa, our mission is to build capacity and knowledge– with partners, practitioners and students – to advance the discourse and systemic impact of social innovation. In collaboration with the UCT GSB, the Centre has integrated social innovation into the business school curriculum, established a wide community of practitioners and awarded over R8 million in scholarships to students from across Africa. Our work covers various sectors including innovative finance, systems change, social entrepreneurship, education, youth development and healthcare.
DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CENTRE
The Development Finance Centre (DEFIC) is dedicated to building capacity in emerging markets. We are a training and research platform – an intellectual hub – connecting universities, development finance institutions and professionals. The Centre facilitates the growth of local and international development finance expertise and supports the creation of innovative financial models for sustainable development solutions in Africa and other emerging markets. Our robust academic programmes, short professional courses, acclaimed faculty, and culturally diverse student body make DEFIC an inspiring place to learn, share ideas and gain new perspectives on emerging development needs.
LEAN INSTITUTE AFRICA
Lean Institute Africa is a non-profit company and a specialised centre at the UCT Graduate School of Business. As a member of the Lean Global Network, the institute is part of an international community of thought leaders and practitioners who share the goal of making things better. We aim to build the community of lean practitioners in Africa through co-learning partnerships, action research and knowledge sharing. Our applied research approach enables us to provide high-quality content in our workshops, experience-based facilitation in our educational programmes and high-impact results for the private and public sectors. Each year we convene a national lean conference, alternating between the Lean Summit Africa and Lean Healthcare Summit, drawing on renowned international speakers.
The Power Futures Lab at the UCT GSB is a leading centre of excellence and expertise. We are dedicated to enhancing understanding and building capacity in infrastructure investment, reform and regulation, in support of sustainable development In Africa and other emerging economies. Our main focus at present is in electricity and water, but growth is expected in the gas sector.
