Africa

Africa could be named the forgotten continent of the world. It is sad that many times instead of reffering to a specific country like Mozambique, we always say Afica. African people this African people that, we generalize them as a whole and we don't see all the diverse cultures this country has. The generalization goes deep when we believe that all african countries are poor, have health problems, that they live in a jungle, that they live in tribes, live in continuos ethnical disputes, and that the only good thing they have is the safari's. It is prety much as how the world generalizes Colombian people as drug dealers, gorrillas and that we also live in a jungle. All this stereotypes should stop an more research must be done before we generalize a country or a continent.

Area: 30’131.536 Km².
Coasts: 40.142 kilómetros.
Population: 972 millions. which is 13.6% of the worlds total population.
Life expectancy: 47,9 (male) y 50 (female).
Economic growth: 4,3 %
There are more than 600 ethnic groups.

Africa has 53 independent states, whom all added up have only a 17% of arable land. Economically only South Africa, Liberia, Libia, Nigeria and Algeria are important or are distiguished. The last three countries have the biggest gas reserves in the continent.

Africa has a tight cultural relationship to the European invasion and authoritary distribution of land they suffered in 1885. This event took to Africa new cultures, languages, religions, beliefs, etc, that where impossed.

Western Management Style
Individuals care only for themselves
Managers have the power
Selection process
Experience
Isomorphic culture

African Management Style
Collectivist who protect and promote the interests of the group
Chief and elders have the power
Tend to favor their families and friends
Seniority
Multiethnic culture

1. What is Ubuntu? How was it applied to support the merging process of the two companies? (3 examples)

According to the case study Ubuntu is the philosophy that one finds one’s own humanity in helping others to find theirs.


It helps to understand the culture, values, beliefs and norms in Africa and it helps to give companies a competitive advantage.

They use to value communication as a machanism to solve problems, if you deal problems personally is a way of respect and that you care for them.

To make a clearer perspectiveabout ubuntu and what it means watch the following video of Nelson Mandela a freedom icon.





Bibliography:

Mangaliso, Mzamo. 2003. Building competitive advantage from Ubuntu. In Thomas, David Clinton, editor, Readings and cases in International Management: A cross-cultural perspective.

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(filosof%C3%ADa)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgY4UvFWbs0

Picture:http://antenamisionera.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/africa0.jpg