An African leadership paradigm : the missing link for productivity and empowerment - the case of Lesotho

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An African leadership paradigm: The missing link for productivity and empowermentin Business - The case of Lesotho is a study done in response to socio-economic problemsfacing Lesotho due to a lack of, or an out-of-step kind of leadership prevailing in the businesssector in that country. This study is a mixture of theory and application. The chronologicalframework of production, empowerment and leadership practices in Lesotho is presented soas to create the context within which the study is conducted. The examples of leadershippractices and theories explaining the leadership behaviour of past and contemporary Africanleaders are also presented because an African leadership paradigm relies more on skills andwisdom than on techniques and specific knowledge. Explaining this paradigm therefore hasto be done through presenting real experience, not through a list of principles.This study takes the position that there is a need for leadership transformation in Lesothobusiness. This transformation should represent a fundamental shift in the relationship ofbusiness with individuals and the society as whole. This implies therefore that Lesothobusinesses have to reconnect with the people that comprise them. The African leadershipparadigm described in this study is argued to be an appropriate approach that would helprealize this shift because it emphasizes collaboration, open lines of communication in alldirections throughout the company, and advocates creativity and innovation. Furthermore,the organizational structure advocated by the African leadership paradigm is seen as a meansto achieve objectives, not an end in itself. The structure is flatter, formed around teams andtask forces.It has also been observed that the view of business leadership in Lesotho is currently amechanistic one, and it is now time to replace this mechanistic view with a more organic one.The latter would recognize the biological nature of business and the sanctity of individualhuman life. Moreover, today business has become a very different place. Internationalboundaries have faded as business takes on a more global perspective. The technology of theinformation age has contracted the time it takes to communicate and make decisions. TheAfrican leadership paradigm takes a panoramic view of this change and finds its place in it.The integration provided in this study describes an African perspective framework forleadership, thus placing the African leadership paradigm firmly in perspective and linking theentire framework to actual leadership practices. It is argued in this study that an African leadership paradigm should be used as a guidingapproach in the business sector in Lesotho. This would help in determining how thisapproach fits into the total organizational picture. It is believed that a balanced effort toimprove leadership qualities would yield the most effective motivational climate in thebusiness sector. It is also argued that an African leadership paradigm should not be regardedas something extreme over and above the duties of leaders, but rather as a way of leadership,a way of doing better what is done now. It is an approach to increase the effectiveness of thebusiness and to fully utilize human resources in solving work problems.Forces of change such as globalisation and smart partnerships and how they transform theway business is done, are also observed in this study. These forces have a major influence onwhether a business could either succeed or go down in flames. The study suggests that thefocus of Lesotho business during this transition period should be to find or create partnershipsthat would provide profitable business relationships and raise competitiveness. This isbecause the world is increasingly becoming a global market where integration acrosstraditional borders is evident in almost every dimension of life. Therefore the focus should beon getting beyond organizational boundaries to more profitable, more desirable relationshipssuch as smart partnerships. These partnerships enlarge the pie and in doing so let each partyemerge as winner. The partners open up the borders between their companies and thisenables them to tap into the productivity that lies between their establishments, and as a resultthey make substantial mutual gains. Lesotho business leaders are therefore urged to transcendboundaries in order to survive.It is also observed that globalisation poses ethical challenges for business and hence the callfor business ethical codes and philosophical moral reasoning such as utilitarianism anddeontology for business in Lesotho. This compels Lesotho not only to adapt to theglobalisation of the world economy but to a new leadership paradigm that would facilitateethical business behaviour, that is, the proposed African leadership paradigm.In a nutshell this study assumes that leadership in Lesotho should have exposure to effectiveprinciples of leadership and that they need to acquire skills and attitudes advocated by theproposed African leadership paradigm. The emphasis should be on motivation,communication, personal effectiveness, collaboration, decision-making and coordination offunctions.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University