Professionalism in Africa-Ethical Issues - ANoP

This document discusses the topics of "Professionalism and Ethics in Business in Africa" and is presented by Dr. Andre Mboule, an Engineer Manager and International Consultant. The document covers areas such as doing business in Africa, professionalism, ethics, and ethical values in business and leadership, with a focus on African perspectives. It provides insights into how business is conducted in Africa, the qualities of a professional, the importance of ethics in business, and the concept of Ubuntu as a guiding principle for ethical leadership.

2. In Africa
Dr MBOULE A., Ph.D.
23 November 2022
Professionalism and Ethics in Business

3. Dr. Andre Mboule, an Engineer Manager and International Consultant, is the
promoter of the consulting firm KEMT Leaders & Consultants, Cameroon & South
Africa. He has been mainly involved in consulting and technical assistance
activities in the following areas: Management, Evaluation and Identification of
Projects / Support Programs for Health Systems and Education; Institutional and
organizational support; Evaluation, Audit, Studies, Situation Analysis and Diagnosis
of equipment; Support for Procurement Procedures for Equipment and Services;
Training, Teaching, Research and Coaching / Mentoring.
His 38-year general experience cover assignments in various organizations and
institutions in nearly 30 countries in Africa and Europe in health facilities, Ministries
of Health, Ministries of Education, consulting firms, consulting firms, and
international organizations such as WHO, AfDB, EU, AFD, GIZ, WB, Lux-Dev., etc.
From 1989 to now, his activities as a lecturer-researcher, mentor of students'
theses, and trainer are conducted within academic institutions and continuing
education programs for senior executives.
Dr. Mboule is a member of several professional associations at national and
international levels. He has created and moderated specialized blogs and pages on
the Internet, as well as professional groups such as the “HTM Leaders in Africa”
group (90+ members, 30+ countries). As a social entrepreneur, Dr Mboule is the
Founder and President of some community associations.
Telephone: [phone]; Email: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected] ; URL: www.mboule-consulting.biz ;
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mbouleandresr
Dr MBOULE Andre, Ph.D.
MSc.Eng., MBA, Ph.D.
Short bio

5. SUMMARY
Business in Africa
01
Professionalism02
Ethics03
Ethics in business life experiences04

6. 1. BUSINESS IN AFRICA
How do we do business in Africa?
Formal and Informal
Non-registered business
(bayam-sellam, artisans, etc.)
Legally-registered business
Online business
Public service
Ministries
Governmental institutions
Local governments
Public companies
Others
Private sector
(industrial & commercial)
Big companies & firms
Factories
SMEs
Retail sales
Intellectual services
(consulting, advisory services)
Consulting firms
Lobbying groups
Individual consultants
Others

7. 1. BUSINESS IN AFRICA
How do we do business in Africa?
Politics
Political parties
Political activists
Opinion leaders
Others
Religions
Faith-based religions
Traditional religions
Other secret cults and sects
Health & Education
Healthcare facilities
Academic and training
institutions
Social organizations
NGOs & INGOs
Community associations
Gender-based organizations
Social activists
Others

8. 2. Professionalism
Who is a professional?
QUALIFICATIONS
Designations - by knowledge and skills -
earned through:
•Academic or lecture courses
•Vocational or on-the-job training
EXPERIENCE
Professional experience (work experience)
•Acquired through full-time employment in
a business area
•Includes previous and current work
experience
TEAM PLAYER
•A person who plays or works well as a member
of a team or group.
•Ensures that they not only contrate on their
work, but assist others in completing their tasks

9. 2. Professionalism
Who is a professional?
Level-5 leadership
(Jim Collins, 2001)
An effective ubuntu team
(Mboule A., 2020)

10. 3. Ethics
What is ethics?
Personal ethics
Guides you in your personal life and the
decisions you make in your workplace
Community ethics
Leads to the promotion of the common good
of the whole community
Professional ethics
Provides the rules that govern the behaviour
and actions of professionals
Religious ethics
Concerns teachings and practices of what is right or
wrong, virtuous or vicious, from a religious point of
view
A
B
C
D
Ethics
1. The scientific study of morality
2. A set of behavioural rules and values about what
is considered as good/right or bad/wrong

11. 4. Ethics in business life experiences
When are we experiencing ethics in business life?
Tendering
process
Fairness in setting
bidding conditions
and criteria
Producing or
selling a quality
product or
service
Respect for the need,
health and security of
the consumer or client
Competing firms
or individuals
Loyalty to the code of
professional ethics
Fighting “corporate
killers”
Respect of others,
openness, trust, love to
show to members of the
organization
Relationships in
a religious
community
Affection and
responsibility to believers
Anti-corruption
behaviours
Integrity, transparency, and
accountability in making
decisions and taking actions
A
C
B
D
E F

12. 4. Ethics in business life experiences
When are we experiencing ethics in business life?
(Dahlgaard, Dahlgaard, & Edgeman, 1998)

13. CONCLUSION
Where do we find ethical values?
A set of 23 recommendations aimed
at creating and encouraging ethical
behaviors.
(Rotberg, 2004)
Ubuntu means “humanity”, “humanness” or
“humaneness.”
Ubuntu values are not only particular to
Africa, they are universal.
(Taylor, 2014)
CODE OF AFRICAN
LEADERSHIP
UBUNTU ETHICAL
VALUES

14. CODE OF AFRICAN LEADERSHIP : 10 MOST IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS
VISION
Building a vision of individual growth and national
advancement.
TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Becoming transformational rather that transactional
leaders.
RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION
Demonstrating in their professional and personal lives a
deep respect for the constitution.
ROLE MODEL
Leading by example.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Being accountable for their actions.
REVIEW
Accepting peer review.
CODE OF ETHICS
Adhering to a strong code of ethics.
ANTI-CORRUPTION
Eschewing corrupt practices.
HUMAN SECURITY
Ensuring human security.
FREEDOM OF RELIGION
Respecting freedom of religion.
CONCLUSION
Where do we find ethical values?

15. - Common relations
- Collective empowerment
- Consensual decision making
- Power sharing
- Cooperative participation
- Unanimous democracy
- Solidarity
- Feeling of friendliness - Think
like a "we"
- Pride in collective achievements - Share a
way of life
- Achieve the well-being of all beings -
Friendly
- Act for the common good - Care
- Serve the community -
Transparency
- Commitment to the good of the community -
Trust
- Knowledge of acceptable behavior -
Listening skills
COLLECTIVE VALUES INDIVIDUAL VALUES
CONCLUSION
Where do we find ethical values?
UBUNTU ETHICAL VALUES
(Jolley, 2011; Mangena, 2011; Sigger, Polak, Pennink, 2010)

16. REFERENCES
Bodiat , A. (2017). Ubuntu for project managers. Louder than ten. Retrieved on February 20, 2018 from
https://louderthanten.com/coax/ubuntu-forproject-managers
Bolden, R. (2014). Ubuntu, In David Coghlan and Mary Brydon-Miller (Eds), Encyclopedia of Action Research,
London: Sage Publications
Collins, J. C. (2001). Good to Great. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
Dahlgaard, S. M. P., Dahlgaard, J. J., & Edgeman, R. L. (1998, June). Core values: The precondition for business
excellence. Total Quality Management, 9(4/5), 51-55. Retrieved November, 12, 2008, from the ProQuest database.
Hailey, J. ( November 2008). Ubuntu: A literature review. A paper prepared for the Tutu Foundation, London: City
University.
Jolley, DR (Spring 2011). Ubuntu: A person is a person through other persons , Master's Degree Thesis, Utah:
Southern Utah University
Karsten, L. & Illa , H. (2001). Ubuntu as a management concept, Quest , Vol. XV, No. 1-2, pp. 91-112
Kelly, C. (2015). How the Ubuntu philosophy can have a positive impact on your business. Retrieved February 27,
2018 from https://www.virgin.com/virgin-unite/business-innovation/how-ubuntu-philosophy-can-have-
positiveimpact-your-business

17. REFERENCES
Mangena, F. (2011). Ethical Leadership in post-colonial Zimbabwe: Insights, Challenges and Remedies, Africana ,
Vol. 5, No. 3, p. 100-125.
Mboule, A. (2020, Novembre). Qu’est-ce qui constitue le style de leadership efficace « ubuntu africain » - L’efficacité
du style de leadership « ubuntu africain », Conférencier, Webinaire « Elimu Series », PMI Africa French-Speaking
Chapter Committee, 18 Novembre 2020
Neo (2014). From Ubuntu to NOFI: The philosophy of African-style communitarianism, Build Africa , Found on
http://immigrechoisi.com/ubuntu-philosophie- africaine -noir- communautarisme /4779/
Nelson, B. & Lundin, S. (2010). Ubuntu: An inspiring story about an African tradition of teamwork and collaboration .
New York, NY: Crown Publishing Group
Ramose, MB (1999). African philosophy through ubuntu . San Francisco, CA: Mond Books
Rotberg, R. (2004, March 23). Code of African Leadership (2004). Retrieved December 13, 2008
https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/Code%20of%20African%20Leadership.pdf
Sigger , DS, Polak , BM, & Pennink , BJW (July 2010). “Ubuntu” or “Humanness” as a management concept, Based
on empirical results from Tanzania, CDS Research Report , No. 29.
Taylor, D. F. P. (2014, August). Defining ubuntu for business ethics – a deontological approach. South African Journal
of Philosophy, Vol. 33, Iss. 3, pp. 331-345. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02580136.2014.948328

18. Dr MBOULE Andre, Ph.D.
KEMT Leaders & Consultants – HTM Leaders In Africa
P.O. Box 25096 - Yaounde - Cameroon
[phone] - [email protected]
Thank you for your kind attention!
#ubuntu
#ethicalleadership
Together for a healthier world