Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of Japanese Lean management principles in South African contexts using Ubuntu, to improve buy-in during Lean implementation.Design/methodology/approachA scoping systematic literature review (SLR) was used to investigate the correlations and variations between Lean management principles and Ubuntu management principles.FindingsBoth similarities and differences were discovered between Ubuntu and Lean. It was noted that Lean adopts principles that do not have corresponding Ubuntu principles, such as levelling out workload, continuous process flow, stopping to fix the problem and visual management.Research limitations/implicationsWhile this research only used a South African concept (Ubuntu) to develop a novel Lean analogy, future research could be pursued in a similar vein for other countries outside of Japan.Practical implicationsThe similarities could assist in “translating” Lean concepts to a South African context, ergo improving the understanding of the Lean principles and possibly contributing to more successful Lean implementations.Originality/valueTo the researcher’s knowledge at time of publication, this study is the first comparison of these two management philosophies. Ergo, the Lean–Ubuntu analogy is a novel comparison of Lean.
Highlights
The Lean philosophy has become a global phenomenon, due to its organisational benefits for continuous improvement (Stone, 2012)
4.3.1 Lean management principles – resources found When reviewing Lean literature, it became apparent that some authors confuse Lean concepts and tools for Lean principles
Conducting an systematic literature review (SLR) on Lean management philosophy was important in establishing the real Lean management principles, as opposed to stating the incorrect ones
Summary
The Lean philosophy (from Japan) has become a global phenomenon, due to its organisational benefits for continuous improvement (Stone, 2012). It has been noted that there are several implementation problems and failures, such as poor employee buy-in (Amer and Shaw, 2014). The ancient concept of Ubuntu is reported to have originated in central Africa within the earliest societies, and as certain groups of people migrated to other parts of the continent, they took the Ubuntu philosophy with them (Mangena, 2016; Muxe Nkondo, 2007). As the new groups formed their new societies, the Ubuntu philosophy began to differ slightly among them, whereas seemingly staying true to the core principles (Mangena, 2016). The Ubuntu philosophy can be found in various African countries, such as Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Ghana, Angola and the DRC (Mangena, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
