Research Excellence Award

Welcome Kupangwa
Nelson Mandela University

Welcome Kupangwa is a researcher affiliated with the Department of Business Management at Nelson Mandela University whose work focuses on family business, values, sustainable entrepreneurship, sustainability and socially responsible business practices. His research examines how values and contextual factors influence organizational behaviour and community engagement in family-business settings. Recent publications place this work within the broader fields of corporate social responsibility, business ethics and sustainable entrepreneurship.[1][2]

Abstract

Welcome Kupangwa’s research profile is situated at the intersection of family business, organizational values, business ethics, sustainability and corporate social responsibility. His published research investigates how values shape decision-making, ethical behaviour, community relationships and long-term organizational practices in indigenous African family businesses. A qualitative and case-based research orientation is evident across several studies, with research examining values, social capital, Ubuntu philosophy and community engagement as interconnected dimensions of responsible business practice.[1][2][3]

Keywords

Corporate Social Responsibility; Family Business; Business Ethics; Sustainable Entrepreneurship; Organizational Values; Indigenous African Family Businesses; Ubuntu Philosophy; Social Capital; Community Engagement; Sustainability.

Introduction

Research on responsible business increasingly considers organizational values, stakeholder relationships and contextual factors alongside conventional measures of business performance. In family businesses, values can influence strategic decisions, relationships among generations and interactions with surrounding communities. Kupangwa’s research contributes to this area by examining value systems and their implications for ethical and socially responsible practices within indigenous African family-business contexts.[1][4]

Research Profile

Kupangwa is associated with the Department of Business Management at Nelson Mandela University. His documented research interests include family business, indigenous knowledge systems, sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainability, with a particular emphasis on values and their transmission within family-business environments.[2][5]

Research Contributions

A significant theme in Kupangwa’s research is the relationship between organizational values and business behaviour. His work considers values as strategic and social resources that can influence the conduct and development of indigenous African family businesses.[1]

Another contribution concerns the application of Ubuntu philosophy to family-business ethics. Research in this area identifies ethical values that influence decisions and behaviours and examines how these values manifest in organizational contexts. The research provides a contextual perspective on ethical management and responsible business practice.[3][4]

Publications

Selected publications associated with Welcome Kupangwa include research articles addressing business values, Ubuntu philosophy, ethical values, community engagement and the nature of values in indigenous African family businesses.

• Kupangwa, W., Farrington, S. M., & Venter, E. (2023). Business values as a strategic resource in indigenous black South African family businesses. South African Journal of Business Management, 54(1), a3836. DOI: 10.4102/sajbm.v54i1.3836.[1]
• Kupangwa, W. (2024). The African philosophy of Ubuntu and family businesses: a perspective article. Journal of Family Business Management. DOI: 10.1108/JFBM-10-2023-0216.[5]
• Kupangwa, W., Venter, E., & Farrington, S. M. (2025). Exploring value systems and community engagement in indigenous black South African family businesses: a sociocultural perspective. Social Responsibility Journal, 22(1), 134–177. DOI: 10.1108/SRJ-08-2024-0529.[4]

Research Impact

The supplied bibliometric record lists 10 documents, 58 citations and an h-index of 5. These indicators provide a quantitative snapshot of the researcher’s indexed scholarly output and citation activity. They should be interpreted alongside publication quality, methodological contribution, disciplinary relevance and broader scholarly influence rather than as independent measures of research quality.[3][4]

Award Suitability

The Research Excellence Award recognizes a research profile characterized by scholarly contribution, thematic consistency and evidence of meaningful engagement with an academic field. Based on the supplied bibliometric information and publicly documented publications, Welcome Kupangwa’s research demonstrates a coherent focus on corporate social responsibility, family business, organizational values, ethics and sustainability.[3][4]

Conclusion

Welcome Kupangwa’s research profile reflects an established academic focus on corporate social responsibility, family business, organizational values, business ethics and sustainability. His published work examines these subjects through contextual and qualitative approaches, with particular attention to indigenous African family businesses and the role of values in organizational and community relationships.[1][2]

External Links

• • ORCID Profile
  • Scopus Author Profile
  • Google Scholar Profile

References

1. Kupangwa, W., Farrington, S. M., & Venter, E. (2023). Business values as a strategic resource in indigenous black South African family businesses. South African Journal of Business Management, 54(1), a3836.
   https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v54i1.3836
2. Kupangwa, W., Farrington, S. M., & Venter, E. (2025/2026). The nature of values in indigenous African family businesses. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 38(2), 353–398.
   https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2025.2598200
3. Kupangwa, W., Venter, E., & Farrington, S. M. (2026). Manifestations of ethical values in indigenous African family businesses: An application of the Ubuntu philosophy. South African Journal of Business Management, 57(1), a5592.
   https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v57i1.5592
4. Kupangwa, W., Venter, E., & Farrington, S. M. (2025). Exploring value systems and community engagement in indigenous black South African family businesses: a sociocultural perspective. Social Responsibility Journal, 22(1), 134–177.
   https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-08-2024-0529
5. Kupangwa, W. (2024). The African philosophy of Ubuntu and family businesses: a perspective article. Journal of Family Business Management.
   https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-10-2023-0216