Africa, Business Ethics in

Abstract

Research in African philosophy of management can make a significant contribution to the existing literature in African philosophy and management, as well as to the practice of African management. However, to date there is a dearth of substantial African business ethics literature. This on one hand; on the other hand much of what is used is, just like management theories, still largely based on Western ontology which either takes management theory for granted, thereby concerning itself mostly with moral dilemmas of managing following the said theories, or argues that some management theory is unethical. As a consequence, the impact of these ethical theories on the practice of management in Africa is still negligible. A practice of management relevnt to the African situation seems to require a re‐examination of the relationship between philosophy and management within African cultures. This article is an overview and justification of the opinion that a viable business ethics for Africa would have to take into consideration the general African worldview called Ubuntu, which has been proposed by some prominent scholars as an African worldview that can offer a relevant basis for an African Business Ethics.