Prof. Patient Rambe
Prof. Patient Rambe

NRF RATINGC2
DESIGNATIONAssistant Dean: Research, Innovation and EngagementProfessor of Entrepreneurship
PORTFOLIOProf. Patient Rambe holds a PhD in Business Management from the University of the Free State and another PhD in Educational Technology from the University of Cape Town. He is a Research Professor of Entrepreneurship and an Assistant Dean: Research, Innovation and Engagement in the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Central University of Technology, Free State. He is the past Director of the Centre of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies. His academic research is rated C2 by the National Research Foundation.His scholarly works appear in Journal of Innovation and Knowledge, Technology in Society, Information Technology and People, Journal of Small Business Management, International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, International Journal of Management Education and European Journal of Innovation Management. He is the Associate Editor of Journal of Innovation and the Knowledge Economy.He edited several books: The future of entrepreneurship in Southern Africa: Technological and managerial perspectives (Palgrave), Emerging technologies, frugal innovations and techno-entrepreneurship for sustainable human development (Palgrave). He also co-edited: The future of entrepreneurship in Africa: Cross-sectional perspectives (Routledge) and Leveraging Educational Quality in Southern African Educational Systems: A Practitioners’ Perspective (Langaa Publishing Group).
AREAS OF EXPERTISETechnology entrepreneurship, technology business incubation, digital entrepreneurship, Gen AI for entrepreneurial firms.
PUBLICATIONS2025
  • Simba, A., Tajeddin, M., Rambe, P. and Baah, F. (2025). Ambidexterity–resilience nexus and innovation: A focus on SMEs in a developing world setting. Journal of Innovation and Knowledge, 10 (6) https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S2444-569X(25)00201-X (Elsevier) (Impact factor 15.5).
  • Simba, A., Rambe, P. & Jones, P. (2025). Entrepreneurship processes: Digital self-efficacy, technostress, and entrepreneurial behaviour in South Africa. Technology in Society, 83 (2025) 103038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103038 (Elsevier: Impact factor 12.5)
  • Simba, A., Tajeddin, M., Jones, P., & Rambe, P. (2025). Technostress in entrepreneurship: Focus on entrepreneurs in the developing world. Information Technology and People, https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-01-2024-0073. (Emerald: Impact factor: 5.6)
  • Rambe, P. & Ndofirepi, T. (2025). Antecedents and consequences of Internet celebrity endorsements: the moderation of sentiment analysis and travel video blogging. Tourism Recreation Research, 1-16 https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2025.2569871. (Taylor & Francis: Impact factor 2.6).
2024
  • Simba, A., Rambe, P., Navarrete, S. & Vadillo, M. (2024). A technostress–entrepreneurship nexus in the developing world. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-024-00968-4 (Springer: Impact factor: 5.6).
  • Simba, A., Tajeddin, M., Jones, P., & Rambe, P. (2024). A disaggregated view of soft skills: Entrepreneurship education systems of Africa. Journal of Small Business Management, 1-33. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2024.2356596 (Taylor and Francis Impact factor: 6.2 (2022).

BOOK(S) OR CHAPTER(S) IN BOOK(S)2026 Book chapters published
  • Rambe, P. (2026). Digital Technology, Frugal Innovations and Digital Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Human Development. In: P. Rambe & B. Nyagadza (Eds.). Sustainable Human Development in Africa: Africa: The Role of Technologies, Frugal Innovations and Techno-Entrepreneurship (pp. 84-139). UK: Palgrave McMillan.
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2025 Book chapters published
  • Rambe, P. (2025). Sustainable human development in Southern Africa: The frugal innovation-knowledge intensive entrepreneurship nexus. Nyagadza & Abu Bashar (Eds.) Disruptive Frugal Digital Technological Innovation in Africa (pp. 263-285). UK: Emerald.
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  • Rambe, P. &. Masupa, E. (2025). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and agri-tourism: Implications for entrepreneurial firms in emerging contexts. B. Nyagadza, F. Chigora & A. Hassan (Eds.), Agritourism in Africa (pp. 1-51). UK: Routledge. 
  • Rambe, P. (2025). Building blocks for inclusive and innovative financial technology: Evidence from entrepreneurial firms in emerging African economies. In: V. Sharma, M. Gupta, N. Arora & A. Shaikh (Eds.). Fintech and financial inclusion: Leveraging digital finance for economic empowerment and sustainable growth. UK: Routledge.
  • Rambe, P. (2025). Antecedents of indigenous innovation commercialisation: Do gender and firm level traits matter? E. Eijdenberg, N. Isaga, L. Paas, P. Choongo, E. Masurel, & S. Muleta, African businesses and multiple value creation: Impact through technology and digitalization. World Scientific.
  • Rambe, P. (2025). Entrepreneurship education-digital entrepreneurship intentions-female digital entrepreneurship nexus: Moderation of social cultural and social technical forces. C. Iwu (Ed.). Educating for Impact: Entrepreneurship Education as a Catalyst for Economic Development. Emerald Publishing: UK
  • Rambe, P. & Khoza, G. (2025). Artificial intelligence and technology entrepreneurship in informal contexts: The role of business informalisation strategies and processes. In: S. Adomako, K. Frimpong, N. Zahoor, F. Donbesuur, M. Mkansi, S. Nyongesa, (Eds). Technology Entrepreneurship in Africa. UK: Routledge (Taylor and Francis)
 2024 Book chapters published
  • Rambe, P. (2024). Digitalisation and digital innovation as strategies for sustainable business model development and value creation for African SMMEs: A research, practitioner, and policy agenda. In: P. Rambe & R.E. Hinson (Eds.), Entrepreneurial Development in Southern Africa: Some Contemporary Perspectives. UK: Palgrave McMillan.
  • Rambe, P. (2024). The future of digital entrepreneurship in Africa: New frontiers, prospects, opportunities and challenges for small digital enterprises. In: P. Rambe & R.E. Hinson (Eds.), Entrepreneurial Development in Southern Africa: Some Contemporary Perspectives. UK: Palgrave McMillan.
  • Rambe, P. & Hinson, R.E (2024). The future of innovation and entrepreneurship as a driver of livelihoods in Southern Africa: A synthesis. In: P. Rambe, & R.E. Hinson (Eds.). Entrepreneurial Development in Southern Africa: Technological and Managerial Perspectives (pp. 244-275). UK: Palgrave McMillan.
  • Hinson, R.E & Rambe, P. (2024). Entrepreneurial Development in Southern Africa – Technological and Managerial Perspectives. In: P. Rambe, & R.E. Hinson (Eds.) Entrepreneurial Development in Southern Africa: Technological and Managerial Perspectives (pp. 9-27). UK: Palgrave McMillan.
  • Rambe, P. (2024). SME appropriation of blockchain, metaverse, and digital payments to deepen financial inclusion and democratise financial ecosystems: A critical developing economy perspective. In: A.A. Shaikh, G. Mutanov, & H. Karjaluoto (Eds). Blockchain, Metaverse, and Digital Payments – A global digital consumer perspective. (pp. 219-237). UK: Routledge.
  • Rambe, P. (2024). The effect of business expansion strategies on indigenous innovation commercialisation in selected South African indigene firms: The mediation of business resilience. To appear in: E.L. Eijdenberg, F. Ostertag, D. Léo-Paul & H. Onwuegbuzie (Eds). Indigenous entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for theory and practice. (345-394). UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
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  • Rambe, P., Mpiti, N., & Khoza, G. (2024). Financial bootstrapping strategies in emerging economy contexts: Cost escalation as a deliberate financial strategy. In: Samuel Adomako, Michael Asiedu Gyensare, & Mujtaba Ahsan (Eds.). Stakeholder Management and Entrepreneurship in Africa. UK: Routledge.
PRESENTED CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPSRambe, P. & Mantje, M. (2025). ICT based competencies, knowledge management and firm competitiveness: The moderation of operational efficiency. 18th International Business Conference. White Sands Resort and Conference Centre, Dar es Salam, Tanzania, 21-24th of September 2025.
Masupa, E& Rambe, P. (2021). The effects of selected Fourth Industrial Resolution (4IR) digital technology on SMME resilience. Fostering Innovation Advances in Applied Management (FinAAM Conference) 2021, Department of Applied Management, Durban University of Technology. December 2, 2021
Mantje, M and Rambe, P. (2021). The effects of Knowledge management on SMME competitiveness: An emerging economy context view. In. A. Garcia-Perez & L. Simkin (Eds), Proceedings of the 22nd European Conference on Knowledge Management (pp. 534- 544). Virtual conference supported by Coventry University, 2-3rd September 2021.
Tsabalira, M. & Rambe, P. (2020). Appropriating Smartphone Applications and Wearables Data for Knowledge Management and Effective Health Management. In A. Garcia-Perez & Lyndon Simkin (Eds) Proceedings of the 21st European Conference on Knowledge Management (pp. 1007-1012). Coventry University, UK on 2–4 December 2020, Academic Conferences International Limited.
Masupa, M.E., Van der Walt, F., Nkoyi, A. & Rambe, P. (2019). Factors influencing internet banking adoption decisions of rural dwellers in a developing country. 14th International Business and Management Conference. 21-22 August 2019. Barcelona, Spain.
EXTERNAL PROFILESGoogle ScholarOrcID

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