Ubuntu!: An Inspiring Story About an African Tradition of Teamwork and Collaboration

The best-selling authors, Lundin and Nelson, apply the values of Ubuntu in the workplace. They show, in a story form, how the Ubuntu spirit of teamwork and collaboration can transform a workplace into a familial environment where there is mutual support, mutual care and unconditional respect. They underscore the importance of this ancient African philosophy which is a deeply held belief and recognition that, despite our differences, all people are equal and connected in their humanity. For this reason, we all gain as a human species in treating each other with respect, care and compassion. They bring out the fact that this ancient African philosophy reaffirms the fundamental goodness of each person, which can be taped and harnessed for the individual and collective benefit. Ubuntu fosters trust among people because it makes others believe that their best interests are taken care of by each corporate member, especially by those who are in charge. It fosters a sense of community and unity of purpose. In addition, the authors contend that the adoption of Ubuntu in the workplace offers a better value platform for the acceptance of corporate language such as ‘motivation’, ‘innovation’, ‘facilitation’ and ‘strategy’. By leading to common grounds that connect and bind people together, Ubuntu helps such language stop sounding like mere manipulation. It engages people in a ‘human-to-human’ fashion as they journey towards achieving corporate goals. It focuses on what we have in common rather than on what separates us. Lundin and Nelson remind us that Ubuntu’s best known practitioners are the two Nobel Prize winners Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who had the insight of fetching wisdom from this ancient African philosophy when they faced unprecedented human crisis. This book is an important window that opens up to the vast spectrum of the transformative potential of Ubuntu attitude in a world where human beings need to reclaim what makes them humane: respect, care and compassion.

I was psyched when I saw Ubuntu in the non-fiction row in my library and picked it up. I will say, first, the concept of Ubuntu is wonderful and inspiring however the follow-through story [while prefaced as fiction] was just a little too sugar coated "golly gee Wally" for me to say anything further positive about the book. Second, the chronological sequence of events is non-sensical at best. It seems the authors just assigned random dates to the events - or more likely - that they did not even proofread the text. As a brief example to the many time "lapses"on p.53 [of my version "the African Trip Winners Meet"] the authors talk about having the meeting just after the Fourth of July holiday hence the reader assumes trip is in upcoming month or two. They also mentione the group must do a presentation and make a positive corporate contribution from what they learned on the trip when they return which they "do not have much time to do." Hence, reader thinking okay maybe September or October presentation but in any case before Christmas. However in chapter entitled "Final Presentation for the Corporate Presenation" they state in the memo to firm that date of presentation is May 23rd? And then later in ""John Gives Nancy a Progress Report" they state the presentation is August 23rd? If you two authors are the professional business people touted on the back insert of your book at least proofread your product. Negative stars if possible. Lastly, just curious if the authors had any proceeds from the book actually funneled back into the SAfrican community? If they did kudos to them and hope the percentage exceeded that of the two authors combined and if it did not, well not a very good example of "real life" Ubuntu for your readers, is it?

Great Team Work Values