Ubuntu Philosophy

Ubuntu Is a Classical African concept, also knowed as an ethic or humanist philosophy
that focuses on people's allegiances and relations with each other.

Nelson Mandela explained Ubuntu as follows:

A traveler through a country would stop at a village and he didn't have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food, entertain him. That is one aspect of Ubuntu but it will have various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not enrich themselves.

We can see that Africans share a great philosophy in which we all are equals, we all are brothers. The Whole globe must learn from this and finish discrimination and inequality. As Africa was the Cradle of life we must hear them and follow this philosophy, implement it in our everyday lives, organizations, sports, etc.

Ubuntu Philosophy must be present for Cross-Cultural Managers; a great example would be the BP case, that took place in the Soviet Union when it opened their oil market and allowed foreign companies to enter their country. Bp had several issues:

1. American Managers had some advantages (better offices, better living places, more Vacations, preferential treatment over Russian Workers).
2. Misunderstandings between both nations.
3. near negotiation closure.

When the company realized that their strategy was bad at first, they called a meeting and changed several factors; establishing equal treatments to all personnel and implementing a cooperation strategy, making it now a days one of the huge oil companies in Russia and in the whole world.

Cross Cultural managers must be aware of this philosophy because:

• It would bring competitive advantage over other companies.
• Would make a better job environment.
• Would make a better information channel between all personnel.

Most importantly managers we assure success with the application of this type of philosophies.

References:

• Mangaliso, M. P. (2001). Building competitive advantage from ubuntu: Management lessons from South Africa.

Images:

• http://www.download-linux.net/bilder/Ubuntu.png
• http://www.ascleiden.nl/Images/library/webdossiers/library_ubuntu.gif
• http://ianitachi.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/ubuntu.jpg