IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i7p6207-d1115776.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Contested Notions of Ubuntu as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Theory in Africa: An Exploratory Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Tendai Makwara

    (Department of Business Support Studies, Faculty of Management Sciences, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa)

  • Dennis Yao Dzansi

    (CUT Entrepreneurship Development Unit, Faculty of Management Sciences, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa)

  • Crispen Chipunza

    (Department of Business Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa)

Abstract

Culture significantly influences corporate social responsibility (CSR) behaviours and business ethics in Africa. In that context, various claims exist about how Ubuntu ethics can also serve as a practicable theory to guide CSR actions. In line with such claims, this study critically interrogated the practicability of utilising an Ubuntu-based approach to guide CSR actions among African businesses. It drew perspectives from published theoretical and empirical literature focusing on Ubuntu as a CSR construct. In conclusion, based on the analysed views, the article argues that although the Ubuntu philosophy adds valuable insight into how firms and managers in Africa can conduct their CSR activities, its transition from a cultural philosophy to a business ethics theory needs to be revised. This implies that the current aspirations of Ubuntu-based CSR relevant to local contexts may not be realised soon.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:7:p:6207-:d:1115776
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/7/6207/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/7/6207/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wanasika, Isaac & Howell, Jon P. & Littrell, Romie & Dorfman, Peter, 2011. "Managerial Leadership and Culture in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 234-241, April.
    2. Thomas Kimeli Cheruiyot & Daniel Kipkirong Tarus, 2016. "Corporate Social Responsibility in Kenya: Reflections and Implications," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, in: Stephen Vertigans & Samuel O. Idowu & René Schmidpeter (ed.), Corporate Social Responsibility in Sub-Saharan Africa, edition 1, chapter 0, pages 87-110, Springer.
    3. 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.
    4. Andrew West, 2014. "Ubuntu and Business Ethics: Problems, Perspectives and Prospects," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(1), pages 47-61, April.
    5. Niloufar Fallah Shayan & Nasrin Mohabbati-Kalejahi & Sepideh Alavi & Mohammad Ali Zahed, 2022. "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-27, January.
    6. Dennis Yao Dzansi & Marius Pretorius, 2009. "The development and structural confirmation of an instrument for measuring the social responsibility of small and micro business in the African context," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 5(4), pages 450-463, October.
    7. Dennis Yao Dzansi & Marius Pretorius, 2009. "The development and structural confirmation of an instrument for measuring the social responsibility of small and micro business in the African context," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 5(4), pages 450-463, October.
    8. 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.
    9. Daniel Kipkirong Tarus, 2015. "Corporate Social Responsibility Engagement in Kenya: Bottom Line or Rhetoric?," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 289-304, September.
    10. Tanusree Jain & Ruth V. Aguilera & Dima Jamali, 2017. "Corporate Stakeholder Orientation in an Emerging Country Context: A Longitudinal Cross Industry Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 143(4), pages 701-719, July.
    11. 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.
    12. Esinath Ndiweni & Welcome Sibanda, 2020. "CSR governance framework of South Africa, pre, during and post-apartheid: a manifestation of ubuntu values?," International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 14(4), pages 363-383.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Ken Kamoche & Geoffrey Wood, 2023. "International business and Africa: Theoretical and applied challenges, and future directions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(5), pages 956-967, July.
    6. Xueyan Dong & Jingyu Gao & Sunny Li Sun & Kangtao Ye, 2021. "Doing extreme by doing good," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 291-315, March.
    7. Rekha Rao-Nicholson & Htwe Htwe Thein & Yifan Zhong, 2024. "A thematic analysis of the links between multinational enterprises’ corporate social responsibility and the Sustainable Development Goals in Myanmar," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(2), pages 203-223, June.
    8. Jaime-Andres Correa-Garcia & Maria-Antonia Garcia-Benau & Emma Garcia-Meca, 2018. "CSR Communication Strategies of Colombian Business Groups: An Analysis of Corporate Reports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-19, May.
    9. Björn Mestdagh & Olivier Sempiga & Luc Van Liedekerke, 2023. "The Impact of External Shocks on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Linking the COVID-19 Pandemic to SDG Implementation at the Local Government Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, April.
    10. Jia Xu & Jiuchang Wei & Liangdong Lu, 2019. "Strategic stakeholder management, environmental corporate social responsibility engagement, and financial performance of stigmatized firms derived from Chinese special environmental policy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(6), pages 1027-1044, September.
    11. BOWERS Dominique & MATLALA Ntswaki & BERHADIEN Moegamat & UMETOR Henry & GONGXEKA Thabo, 2024. "Sustainable Supply Chain Management And Disruptive Theory: A Bibliometric Review," Management of Sustainable Development, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 16(1), pages 11-23, June.
    12. 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.
    13. Samar Ben Romdhane & Sang Lee & Salem Al-Shaebi, 2023. "Enhancing Sustainability Communication among UAE’s Higher Education Students: The Relationship between Sustainable Living Knowledge and Intention to Live Sustainably," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-14, August.
    14. Nikolina Markota Vukic & Mislav Ante Omazic & Ana Aleksic, 2019. "Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy and Reporting: Overview of Practice in Selected European Countries," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 17(2-B), pages 355-367.
    15. Beck, Donizete & Ferasso, Marcos, 2023. "How can Stakeholder Capitalism contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals? A Cross-network Literature Analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PA).
    16. Nikolina Markota Vukic & Mislav Ante Omazic & Ana Aleksic, 2018. "Exploring the Link between Corporate Stakeholder Orientation and Quality of Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 16(2), pages 275-288.
    17. Luiz, John M. & Barnard, Helena, 2022. "Home country (in)stability and the locational portfolio construction of emerging market multinational enterprises," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 17-32.
    18. Saba Iqbal & Safia Nosheen, 2023. "Moderating impact of non-performing loans on the relationship between sustainable development goals and the financial performance of banks," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    19. Figueira, Sandra & Gauthier, Caroline & Torres de Oliveira, Rui, 2023. "CSR and stakeholder salience in MNE subsidiaries in emerging markets," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5).
    20. Smirti Kutaula & Alvina Gillani & Diana Gregory-Smith & Boris Bartikowski, 2024. "Ethical Consumerism in Emerging Markets: Opportunities and Challenges," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(4), pages 651-673, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:7:p:6207-:d:1115776. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.