I became familiar with and grew to respect the profound simplicity of the
Ubuntu concept while working in the area of culture change in South
African organisations. Ubuntu was presented to me during discussions on
organisational values with union groups - particularly discussions on the
values of mutual trust and respect. Where I spoke of organisational
values, they spoke of the 'soul' of the company and wanted the soul to be
Ubuntu.
The literal translation as communicated by a variety of groups is 'a
person is a person through other people'. I was also refered to the
biblical 'love thy neighbour as thyself'.
I came to understand Ubuntu as a value which supports the concept of
individual dignity - if I have any dignity as a human being it is because
other people give me that dignity. Leadership styles, organisational
systems and organisational structures can provide or remove individual
dignity - it is this dignity in the workplace which Ubuntu seeks to
create.
I would relish hearing from others who have worked with Ubuntu.
Cheryl.
HPO Limited - PO Box 31-503, Milford, Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
Tel. (09)486-5330
Fax. (09)486-5440
hpo@hpo.co.nz
--"Cheryl Fontini, HPO Limited" <hpo@hpo.co.nz>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>