TASK N°6

Ubuntu is a traditional African philosophy; it recognizes how we are related with each other humanity. It means I am because you are, there is not differentiation. Ubuntu describes a sense of unity between people through which each discover the own strengths and virtues.

“Incorporating ubuntu principles in management holds the promise of superior approaches to managing organizations. Organizations infused with humaneness, a pervasive spirit of caring and community, harmony and hospitality, respect and responsiveness will enjoy more sustainable competitive advantage” (Mangaliso, 2001).

Currently, talking about ubuntu in organizations is important but is difficult because cross-cultural managers today do not apply this philosophy, because they do not know what it is or how apply it. A cross-cultural manager has the skills and the capability to develop many strategies to carry out the effectiveness in an organization, like we know; he applies the knowledge about cultures in his work environment, knowledge acquired in his studies about traditions’ society, so he can realize the use of ubuntu in today world.

A manager can motivate his employees using ubuntu, he can formulate and implement plans to get a competitive advantage inside the organization, he can communicate and lead its members to be interconnected each other and have a common interest to follow. All the benefits giving by using ubuntu are showing by the employees when they act with mutual respect and understanding, when they adapt easily to the communicate goal working together with success and efficiency, when they act with loyalty to accomplish the organization goal and bring experience during its development.

In the reading, there are some steps that a manager can use to implement the ubuntu’s philosophy; all of them are a guideline to begin with the ubuntu’s principles incorporation. Following them and using other strategies like:

• Cultural knowledge to help in affirming universal human values.
• Understand and teach the flexibility of the cultural and behavior changes.
• Create partnerships between him and his workers.
• Find the harmony for an excellent work environment.

All of them will help the manager improve the outcome, not just in money also in the relationship and performance of his employees and organization work.

References: Video taken from youtube, Ubuntu, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf4hP3GkABI&feature=related

Mangaliso, M(2010) "Building competitive advantage from ubuntu: Management lessons from South africa"