On the nurturing of strategic foresight: The Ubuntu perspective

Sarpong, David; Bi, Jianxiang; Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph

Abstract

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. We draw on ideas from the African humanistic philosophy of Ubuntu with existing approaches to propose alternative ways of nurturing strategic foresight in practice. Delineating Ubuntu as a transient organizing philosophy, we show how the integration of Ubuntu in everyday organizing could enhance relational pluralism, and in-turn strategic foresight. Embarking on some mild speculative expedition based on ideas from Ubuntu, we also outline some activities and organizing routines of team leaders that may contribute to encouraging employees to enact 'foresightful' actions in their situated practice. We conclude with implications of our study for organizing and some directions for futureresearch.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 28, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Oct 31, 2015
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Journal: Futures
• Print ISSN: 0016-3287
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 75
• Pages: 14-23
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2015.10.007
• Keywords: African humanistic philosophy, practice approach, strategic foresight, Ubuntu
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/915428
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2015.10.007