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Ubuntu and Business Ethics: Problems, Perspectives and Prospects

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  • Andrew West

Abstract

The African philosophy of Ubuntu is typically characterised as a communitarian philosophy that emphasises virtues such as compassion, tolerance and harmony. In recent years there has been growing interest in this philosophy, and in how it can be applied to a variety of disciplines and issues. Several authors have provided useful introductions of Ubuntu in the field of business ethics and suggested theoretical ways in which it could be applied. The purpose of this paper is to extend this discussion by providing a more critical analysis of Ubuntu and business ethics with the aim of clarifying the role that Ubuntu can play, and providing guidance for further research in this area. The analysis consists of three sections. In the first, certain problems are identified within the existing literature. This is followed by a consideration of alternative perspectives and interpretations of Ubuntu. The last section, following from the first two, identifies specific areas requiring further research, both empirical and non-empirical, as well as ways in which Ubuntu could be fruitfully applied. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew West, 2014. "Ubuntu and Business Ethics: Problems, Perspectives and Prospects," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(1), pages 47-61, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:121:y:2014:i:1:p:47-61
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1669-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sison, Alejo José G. & Fontrodona, Joan, 2012. "The Common Good of the Firm in the Aristotelian-Thomistic Tradition," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(2), pages 211-246, April.
    2. Solomon, Robert C., 1992. "Corporate Roles, Personal Virtues: An Aristotelean Approach to Business Ethics," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 2(3), pages 317-339, July.
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    4. Maitland, Ian, 1998. "Community Lost?," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(4), pages 655-670, October.
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    8. Maitland, Ian, 1997. "Virtuous Markets: The Market as School of the Virtues," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(1), pages 17-31, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Obaa Akua Konadu-Osei & Smaranda Boroş & Anita Bosch, 2023. "Methodological Decolonisation and Local Epistemologies in Business Ethics Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 186(1), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Hearn, Bruce & Filatotchev, Igor, 2019. "Founder retention as CEO at IPO in emerging economies: The role of private equity owners and national institutions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 418-438.
    3. Maria Margarida Avillez & Andrew Greenman & Susan Marlow, 2020. "Ethical Judgments About Social Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Influence of Spatio-Cultural Meanings," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(4), pages 877-892, February.
    4. Tendai Makwara & Dennis Yao Dzansi & Crispen Chipunza, 2023. "Contested Notions of Ubuntu as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Theory in Africa: An Exploratory Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-11, April.
    5. Yih-Teen Lee & Nana Yaa A. Gyamfi, 2022. "The Sage handbook of contemporary cross-cultural management," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(3), pages 568-571, April.
    6. Piet Naude, 2019. "Decolonising Knowledge: Can Ubuntu Ethics Save Us from Coloniality?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 23-37, September.
    7. Nicola M. Pless & Thomas Maak & Howard Harris, 2017. "Art, Ethics and the Promotion of Human Dignity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(2), pages 223-232, August.
    8. Hearn, Bruce & Strange, Roger & Piesse, Jenifer, 2017. "Social elites on the board and executive pay in developing countries: Evidence from Africa," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 230-243.
    9. Debmalya Mukherjee & Saumyaranjan Sahoo & Satish Kumar, 2023. "Two Decades of International Business and International Management Scholarship on Africa: A Review and Future Directions," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 63(6), pages 863-909, December.
    10. Esi A. Elliot & Carmina Cavazos & Benjamin Ngugi, 2022. "Digital Financial Services and Strategic Financial Management: Financial Services Firms and Microenterprises in African Markets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-15, December.
    11. Daniel S. Lacerda & Fabio B. Meira & Vanessa Brulon, 2021. "Spatial Ethics Beyond the North–South Dichotomy: Moral Dilemmas in Favelas," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(4), pages 695-707, July.
    12. Laura Maria Ferri & Matteo Pedrini & Marco Minciullo, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility and stakeholder dialogue under institutional voids: decoupling the role of corporate motives, ethics, and resources," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(1), pages 159-188, March.
    13. Hearn, Bruce & Oxelheim, Lars & Randøy, Trond, 2016. "The Role of Institutions in the Migration of Corporate Governance Practice into Emerging Economies – The Case of Africa," Working Paper Series 1122, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    14. Ifedapo Adeleye & John Luiz & Judy Muthuri & Kenneth Amaeshi, 2020. "Business Ethics in Africa: The Role of Institutional Context, Social Relevance, and Development Challenges," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(4), pages 717-729, February.
    15. Minka Woermann & Schalk Engelbrecht, 2019. "The Ubuntu Challenge to Business: From Stakeholders to Relationholders," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(1), pages 27-44, June.

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