Ubuntu as a key African management concept: contextual background and practical insights for knowledge application

Abstract

Purpose

To explore how an increasing attention which is being paid to language and culture in organisations can help people to understand the impact of particular management concepts in business practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A range of publications has been selected to indicate how important language in organisations is and how particular cultural backgrounds influence the applicabilty of management concepts. This has been illustrated with the concept Ubuntu, which gains popularity in South Africa.

Findings

The applicabilty of Ubuntu in companies will rely on the habitus of the manager to be a good conversationalist.

Originality/value

So far the Western literature about management knowledge has neglected the development of particular management concepts originating in other parts of the world.

Citation

Karsten, L. and Illa, H. (2005), "Ubuntu as a key African management concept: contextual background and practical insights for knowledge application", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 20 No. 7, pp. 607-620. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940510623416