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The Ubuntu Challenge to Business: From Stakeholders to Relationholders

Author

Listed:
  • Minka Woermann

    (Stellenbosch University)

  • Schalk Engelbrecht

    (KPMG Wanooka Place)

Abstract

This paper addresses whether, and to what extent, the African ethic of Ubuntu can contribute to ethical thinking in general and provide an alternative to stakeholder theory specifically. The conception of Ubuntu that is employed to further the analysis is Thaddeus Metz’s Ubuntu principle of right action, which focuses on promoting harmonious social relations premised on a shared identity and solidarity amongst people. This principle is used to develop an Ubuntu heuristic for organisational decision-making, which serves as the basis for a relationholder theory. It is argued that this relationholder theory can overcome the weaknesses identified with a libertarian account of stakeholder theory, as well as serve as a profitable framework for determining both the purpose of the firm, and the responsibilities that management has towards those parties who affect, and who are affected by, the firm.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:157:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3680-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3680-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew C. Wicks & R. Edward Freeman, 1998. "Organization Studies and the New Pragmatism: Positivism, Anti-positivism, and the Search for Ethics," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 9(2), pages 123-140, April.
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    4. David Lutz, 2009. "African Ubuntu Philosophy and Global Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 84(3), pages 313-328, February.
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    Cited by:

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    4. Bernhard Resch & Chris Steyaert, 2020. "Peer Collaboration as a Relational Practice: Theorizing Affective Oscillation in Radical Democratic Organizing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 164(4), pages 715-730, July.
    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. Oluseyi Aju & Eshani Beddewela, 2020. "Afrocentric Attitudinal Reciprocity and Social Expectations of Employees: The Role of Employee-Centred CSR in Africa," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(4), pages 763-781, February.
    7. 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.

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