On the development of uniquely African management theory

Abstract

The call for uniquely African management principles is not a new one. It would seem as though much of the energy channeled in this direction during the 1990’s has waned in recent times. The discourse surrounding the call for uniquely African management principles is reviewed in this article. Furthermore, this article dissects the need for an African management philosophy, the central tenets thereof as well as the potential benefits inherent to such a philosophy. The South African concept of ubuntu is also expounded upon as a mechanism to solidify African management thought. From the discussion, it is evident that principles of ubuntu are incorporated into the way South African organisations are managed. However, in the South African academic discourse on management, the philosophy of ubuntu is largely ignored. Subsequently, in the management education and training context, curricula and syllabi do not emphasize these uniquely African principles enough.

Keywords: African management, ubuntu, colonialism, management education.