The Ubuntu Concept
The concept of Ubuntu comes from the Bantu language which is the traditional language of Southern Africa. Translated, Ubuntu means 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. The overall concept of Ubuntu values people as a community rather than taking an individualistic approach. The Zulus have a saying 'umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu',which means a person is a person through other persons. It is humanistic way of life which holds ethics and morals at the forefront of everything. The main ethical values Ubuntu holds are respect for others, helpfulness, community, sharing, caring, trust and unselfishness. Morals such as compassion, cooperation and communalism are highly valued and the well being of the whole community is a unified objective.
'A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed', (Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1999).
Although the Ubuntu concept originates from an African philosophy and way of life, it became more apparent with the abolishment of the apartheid in South Africa. Leaders such as Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela spoke about using the concept of Ubuntu in a wider context in terms of political agendas and general relationships between people and organizations within an efficient integrated society.
'The spirit of Ubuntu, that profound African sense that we are human only through the humanity of other human beings - is not a parochial phenomenon, but has added globally to our common search for a better world',(Nelson Mandela, 2000).
Culture
It is important to understand Ubuntu is not a management approach or a method of control. It is a culture that is deeply rooted into the people that live in the Southern African region. Culture has been defined as 'An ordered system of meanings and symbols in terms of which social interaction takes place', (Geertz, 1973). This definition shows the ingrained understanding between the people of that culture and the common understanding of meaning and reason. Culture has also been defined as 'A collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another', (Hofstede, 1984). This definition suggests that as the individual has been programmed, the morals, behaviours, meanings and interactions of that group can not be changed. In fact, even if the environment changes and the individual interacts with people of different cultures, it will be very difficult for that individual to conform to the new culture as they have already been 'programmed' with the norms of their own culture.
Cultural Management Misunderstanding
When considering these differences in cultures and the potential problems in miscommunication and essentially misunderstandings that can occur, it is important that common ground is achieved and careful consideration is given to the norms of the opposing culture. This is one reason why more and more companies are using translation services.
'The workers of a South African mining company had a dispute with management. When they invited the top management to publicly address them on the issue, their request was turned down. Instead, management responded by sending messages through envoys and written statements posted on bulletin boards. Frustrated, the employees decided to strike'
This is an example of European management working in South Africa with a local work force, but they failed to consider the local cultural norms and paid the price.
Source by Kiran D Adatia
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