About

I am a Lecturer in Business, Economic, and Social Policy in the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Derby.

My primary research interest is in strategy-as-practice, where I draw on social practice theories to conduct a mix of theory, practice and policy-relevant studies on small informal businesses, informal economic activities, and the informal economy more broadly. Strategy-as-practice is a relatively nascent and under-represented, yet vibrant research tradition where we focus on strategy-making practices and processes. My research is situated in small informal business settings which are usually hotbeds for enterprise and innovation. This strategy research tradition seeks amongst other things, to explore the consequence of strategy-making and practices to include extra-organisational outcomes that extend beyond the focal businesses and actors, including their societal value with important practice and policy implications. My post-doctoral research which includes a mix of empirical, review, conceptual and research methods case studies has appeared in the International Journal of Management Reviews, European Management Journal, International Small Business Journal, Current Issues in Tourism, Business Strategy and Development, Africa Journal of Management amongst others. 

Before taking up my ECA role in the University of Derby, I was engaged as a Senior Lecturer at the Business School, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra. 

Teaching responsibilities

• Study Skills for Business (Level 3)
• Global Business Strategy (Level 6)
• Corporate Placement Project (Level 7)
• International Business Theory and Strategy (Level 7)

Professional interests

Based on my keen interest in small informal business, informal economic activities and the informal sector more broadly, I am interested in engaging with stakeholders in policy dialogues that promote social and economic inclusiveness and regional development.

Research interests

• Strategy-as-practice
• Strategic management in context
• Organisation theory
• Strategy, organisation and innovation in the Informal sector
• Qualitative research
• Ethnography

Qualifications

• PhD in Management, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
• MSc in International Strategic Management, Staffordshire University, UK
• BSc in Natural Resources Management, KNUST, Ghana

Recent conferences

• Darbi, W.P.K and Knott, P. (2023). Sociomaterial practices in networked strategy accomplishment: idiosyncrasy and revulsion. Paper presented at the British Academy of Management 2023 conference, Brighton, September 1-6
• Darbi, W.P.K and Knott, P. (2018). Informal economic activities, regulatory institutions, and socio-economic outcomes: A case of an informal printing hub. Paper presented at the 2018 Strategic Management Society Annual International Conference, Paris, France, September 20-25
• Darbi, W.P.K and Knott, P. (2017). The institutionalization of materiality of strategizing in a field of practice. Paper presented at the 2017 Strategic Management Society Annual International Conference, Houston, USA, October 29-31
• Darbi, W.P.K and Knott, P. (2016). Small business coopetition practices: Insights from an informal business field. Paper presented at the 2016 Strategic Management Society Annual International Conference, Berlin, Germany, September 17-20
• Darbi, W.P.K and Knott, P. (2015) Strategising practices in an informal economy setting: A case of strategic networking. Paper presented at the 2015 Strategic Management Society Annual International Conference, Denver, USA, October 3-6
• Darbi, W.P.K. and Knott, P. (2014). A practice perspective on strategic networking in the informal economy: A case study. Paper presented at the INBAM Conference, Barcelona, Spain, June 23-27

Experience in industry

• Consultancy
• Advisory
• Research development

International experience

I have strong professional networks in Ghana, Cameroon, Canada, Germany and New Zealand made up largely of academics and practitioners with an interest in the informal economy.

Additional interests and activities

Reviewer for the following journals and conferences:

• Academy of Management Annual Meetings
• Africa Academy of Management Conferences
• Journal of African Business
• Africa Journal of Management
• Asia Pacific Journal of Management
• Current Issues in Tourism
• British Journal of Management
• South African Journal for Communication Theory and Practice
• Business and Society
• Journal of Strategy and Management
• International Journal of Cross Cultural Management

Recent publications

• Tano, A. Y., Manu, F. A., Osei-Frimpong, K., & Darbi, W. P. K. (2023). Leader-member exchange and organizational citizenship behaviour: The moderator effects of subordinates’ horizontal collectivism orientation and team-member exchange. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 23(3), 507-530, https://doi.org/10.1177/14705958231212050
• Darbi, W.P.K and Knott, P. (2023). Small business coopetition strategy as a naturalised practice in a cluster of informal businesses, International Small Business Journal, 41(1), 88-114. DOI: 10.1177/02662426221079728
• Darbi, W.P.K. and Agyei, C. (2022). Towards a Bourdieusian perspective on the tribe and organisations. Journal of African Business, 24(3), 509-528, DOI: 10.1080/15228916.2022.2131031
• Darbi, W.P.K and Knott, P. (2021). The positive development role of informal economic activity: the case of informal printing firms in Ghana, Business Strategy and Development, 4(4), 449-464. DOI: 10.1002/bsd2.170
• Adobor, H., Darbi, W.P.K. and Damuah B.O. (2021). Strategy in the era of swans: strategic leadership and transformation under uncertainty, Journal of Strategy and Management. DOI 10.1108/JSMA-09-2020-0242
• Darbi, W.P.K. and Coffie, S. (2021): Using social practice approaches for strategic management research in Africa: an example, design considerations and potential contributions. Africa Journal of Management, 7(2), 240-262, DOI: 10.1080/23322373.2021.1902212
• Darbi, W.P.K and Knott, P. (2019). An organisational ethnography of strategic networking practice in an under-researched and potentially difficult to access setting: The roles of the researcher, the researched and context. SAGE Research Methods Cases. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781526466266
• Darbi, W.P.K, Hall, C.M and Knott, P. (2018). The informal sector: A review and agenda for management research. International Journal of Management Reviews, 20(2), 301–324. DOI: 10.1111/ijmr.12131
• Darbi, W.P.K and Knott, P. (2016). Strategising practices in an informal economy setting: A case of strategic networking. European Management Journal, 34 (4), pp. 400-413
• Darbi, W.P.K. and Hall, C.M (2014).  Elite interviews: Critical practice and tourism. Current Issues in Tourism, 17(9), pp. 832-848
• Atsu, F., Adjei, C. Darbi, W.P. and Adjei-Mensah, S. (2014). The impact of telecom revenue on economic growth: Evidence from Ghana. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 5(2), pp. 195-208
• Darbi, W.P.K., Agyei, C., Atsu, F. and Adjei-Mensah, S. (2013). The incidence of dysfunctional internet usage in Ghana: An exploratory study. European Journal of Business and Management, 5(2), pp. 223-236
• Darbi, W.P.K. (2012). How do high-performing organisations define their mission in Ghana? African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 3(2), pp. 184-204
• Darbi, W.P.K. (2012). The strategic human resource management discourse: A strategic management perspective. Asia Pacific Journal of Business and Management, 3(2), pp. 22-34
• Darbi, W.P.K. (2012). Of mission and vision statements and their potential impact on employee behaviour and attitudes:  The case of a public tertiary but profit-oriented institution. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 3(14), pp. 95-109
• Darbi, W. P.K. (2010). The concept of strategic product/service groups in competitor analysis: A reconceptualisation of the strategic group theory. GIMPA Journal of Leadership, Management and Administration, 6(2), pp.148-166