Indigenisation of Corporate Strategies in Africa: Lessons From the African Ubuntu Philosophy

Abstract

Within an African setting, the Ubuntu philosophy embodies a socio-cultural framework that applies to all individuals and institutions throughout the continent. The Ubuntu application is pervasive in almost all parts of the African continent. Hence, the Ubuntu philosophy is integrated into all aspects of day-to-day life throughout Africa and is a concept shared by all tribes in South, Central, West, and East Africa amongst people of Bantu origin. This paper presents a desk research that aims at reviewing and analysing literature on corporate lessons that can be realised from the African Ubuntu philosophy. The paper reviews the background and significance of the Ubuntu philosophy including successful cases of Africanising management systems. Finally the paper reviews major contributions that the Ubuntu philosophy can make towards global management systems. The literature reveals that there are a lot of corporate strategy lessons that can be realised out of the Ubuntu philosophy. These lessons include collectivism and teamwork, creation of synergies and competitive advantages, humanist leadership styles and maturity, consensus in decision-making systems, effective communication, and community-based corporate social responsibility. Therefore, there is a need for corporate strategy and management systems to be realigned with the local Ubuntu philosophy that defines the Africa’s socio-cultural framework. To be successful, Africa-based organisations must be found on this Ubuntu philosophy.