AFRICA

SUMMARY:
For this nex case study we have Africa a huge continent full adventures that come from its exotic environment. The continent is arranged in 53 countries, conforming the African Union, taking out Morocco. It carries certain mistery because it is believed that form this diverse continent started human race, that from here the human being developed. The majority of the peole are black, this is considered the black continent. This is the main reason why slaves were taken from Africa, but now Africa is free and it has multiple opportunities to remain free. It is sad but true that Africa still suffers from a great level of poverty and corruption. The good part is that this situation can change, Africa is full of natural resources like: land, plants, animals, climate, etc. And all of these characteristics can be used to take it up, to develop and receive recognition globally as other continents have achieved it. A s its people have not been very well known its hard to judge the type of workers they can be, what Ia mean is in terms of organizational skills. Its a relief to know that these skills can be taught and learned by them in order to have countries with a high potential to invest in. To have a good development of human resources and costumer service, adquiring missions and visions as complete values for each work contract. This is how a poor country can change and solve its domestic problems and as a whole solve all the continents disadvantages.

Video:
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwY47CF8nrM


QUESTIONS:
1) What is Ubuntu?How was it applied to support the merging process of the 2 companies? (3 examples)
The reference article is: Building competitive advantage from Ubuntu, Management lessons from South Africa. Ubuntu is a philosophy which means all positive aspects like humanness, caring for others, harmony and hospitality work to form a solid group of people decided to work together. Besides it means respect and responsiveness with each other. African have in their majority the ruling of the self by Ubuntu philosophy, which beliefs that one can only become a person through the relation and recognition of others. This can tell us very much about their integrity as humans because for them is always first the work group and the solidarity. The Ubuntu practice makes africans more attractive for companies to invest in their countries due to their good work and values. It is commonly used to solve problems because it helps take positions about what is fair and what is not.
An example to quote this could be the deal between the African Bank Miner credit and The National Union of Mineworkers, they were having communication problems and their business depended on workers. For this reason they decided to implement the Ubuntu philosophy in order to be able to create bonds and values between workers and end with the problems. They were able to get to their workers by clear Ubuntu examples like the stories of the elephant and the bird which mean equality and social responsability. All of these was necessary in order to create a good workplace in order to have a successful business.

REFERENCES:

• Image taken from: http://http://www.juegaenred.com/imagenes/foto_africa.jpg
• file://Mangaliso, Mzamo. 2003. Building competitive advantage from Ubuntu. In Thomas, David Clinton, editor, Readings and cases in International Management: A cross-cultural perspective.
• file://African Bank Miners Credit – Case