In Africa there is a division among the people. There is the upper class that lives as most Americans live enjoying shopping centers, healthy organic foods, and are well educated. The majority, however, fall within the lines of poverty, in stark comparison to their polar opposite, this class lives in rags, scrounging for food, and often without electricity. The leading provider in South Africa for electricity is Eskom; their business motto is “electricity for all. ” (Parnell, 2008)
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They have gone further in this line of thinking by implementing “Ubuntu Management. What exactly is “Ubuntu Management,” though, and how does it compare to the Christian world view? Major Points In the mid 1980’s a law was passed in South Africa that made it legally prohibited for a company to provide electricity to the black community. (Parnell, 2008) This didn’t stop Eskom, however, from embracing the thought of “electricity for all. ” That motto was just the beginning, however, today their values, according to their website are, “zero harm, integrity, innovation, sinobuntu (caring), customer satisfaction and excellence. (Eskom)
These values have derived from their belief in their management strategy, “Ubuntu Management. ” “Ubuntu Management” was brought about Mr. Khoza. “Ubuntu” translated from Zulu means “I am because you are, you are because we are. ” (Parnell, 2008) Thus “Ubuntu Management” is based in the idea of community, since community is a group of people there would have to be a level of respect for all people in that community in various ways. With this line of thinking Mr.
Khoza studied the company, how it worked, what motivated people and when the head of his finance department he had the opportunity to sell him on the idea of the philosophy of “Ubuntu,” rather than give him a counter offer. (Parnell, 2008) By selling the head of his finance department on the philosophy, he created an ally that wasn’t there for the money, but rather there for the community, making him more integrated and secure in his allegiance to the company. Ultimately, Mr.
Khoza’s philosophy created an even stronger company that had more stability in an unstable economy because of the value he put into developing the community of the company, and it’s responsibilities to its customers, regardless of their skin color. “Ubuntu Management” is very similar to the Christian worldview in that it aims to understand and treat its fellow man respectfully regardless of prior disposition. It seeks to do what is best for the community as a whole, and bring it together with respect and understanding for one another as it should.
The Christian worldview, brought down to lames terms is, love your neighbor as yourself. While “Ubuntu Management” doesn’t speak of loving each other, the simple translation from Zulu shows that you are dependent upon others just as they are dependent upon the community. (Parnell, 2008) Essentially people would not be who and what they are without the communities they come from, and as such they should respect those communities. While it is not a teaching form the Bible its self, it is very close in values to that of a Christian world view. Summary Ubuntu Management” was a new way of thinking, it was another step for a company that sought to unite a country that had a great divide in social classes, and even dared to go against the laws of the land to make that happen. Eskom dared to look beyond its own benefit of serving only those that could pay an electricity bill, and instead looked to finds ways to provide power, to those that had lived powerless lives.
