Business ethics in Africa

Abstract

African businesses face major challenges in regard to their operational practice and ethical conduct free of corruption if they wish to become self-sustaining. It is imperative that they avoid any behaviour which is narcissistic in nature and which is based on the ethic of self-preservation and individualism. What is needed, are ethics codes based on sound ethical philosophies such as ubuntu. Furthermore, it is essential to include all employees in the decision-making process and to empower them so as to ensure good workplace practices. Initiatives must be put into place as a matter of urgency so as to make ethics training a reality in all business ventures. For success to result in ethical practice endeavours, the buy-in of management is non-negotiable. Senior managers must be assigned to assist employees to integrate ethics into the everyday operation of every business, and to serve as role-models for acceptable conduct. Ethics codes, which serve as yardsticks for employee behaviour, must be drawn up and revised as often as possible. Only in this way can African business arrive at the desired destination of global competitiveness.