Abstract
Zambia, a landlocked country in sub-Saharan Africa, has many natural resources and industries, including a flourishing textile industry. Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles Limited is a joint venture company based in Kabwe, Zambia, which manufactures and markets textiles. After a decade of standstill, the organisation was reopened in 2016. However, during the past few years, some issues have arisen regarding decision-making and participation of local employees. Many Zambian employees feel disrespected by their Chinese managers. Mrs Kabelo, a qualified design maker who is in middle management, is promoting new African-style textile designs, which could attract more customers and protect the organisation from a second shutdown. How should she approach the Chinese management? At a meeting of the Zambian employees aiming to reach an agreement, they discuss how to access the Chinese management and decide to write an official letter using language that is interculturally sound. Is it appropriate to use Chinese idioms to open the ears of Chinese management to hear the Zambian issues on participating in decision-making to promote modern African design patterns and colours?
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
African Art Symbolism. (2018). Retrieved from https://africanartsymbolism.weebly.com/color-meanings.htm
Bateman, C. (2018, July 18). Barack Obama’s Plea for a Return to Global Ubuntu Locally Pertinent. Biznews. Retrieved from https://www.biznews.com/leadership/2018/07/18/barack-obama-speech-ubuntu
Bemba English Dictionary Online. (2018). Retrieved from https://glosbe.com/en/bem/
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. (2018). Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles (Joint Venture Qingdao Textile & Zambia Ministry of Defence). Retrieved from https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/zambia-china-mulungushi-textiles-joint-venture-qingdao-textile-zambia-ministry-of-defence
Bwalya, E. (2016). China-Zambia Relations. In S. Adem (Ed.), China’s Diplomacy in Eastern and Southern Africa. London and New York: Routledge.
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia. (2018). About Zambia. Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://www.zambiaembassy.org/page/about-zambia
Everyculture.com. (2018). Countries and Their Cultures Forum. Zambia. Symbolism. Retrieved from https://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Zambia.html#ixzz5ZJMOKXt1
Gade, C. (2012). What Is Ubuntu? Different Interpretations among South Africans of African Descent. South African Journal of Philosophy, 31(3), 487.
Hare, P. (2007). China and Zambia: The All-Weather Friendship Hits Stormy Weather Association for Asian Research. Retrieved from http://www.asianresearch.org/articles/3009.html
Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. (1992, January/February). The Balanced Scorecard – Measures that Drive Performance. Harvard Business Review.
Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. (1996, January/February). Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System. Harvard Business Review.
Mayer, C., & Boness, C. (2003). SüdafrikanischeKulturstandards. Handlungsrelevantes Wissen für Fach- und Führungskräfte (South African Cultural Standards). Africa Spectrum, 38(2), 173–196.
Metz, T., & Gaie, J. (2010). The African Ethic of Ubuntu/Botho: Implications for Research on Morality. Journal of Moral Education, 39(3), 273–290.
Munoni, C. M. (2017). Cotton Textile Industry in Zambia: The Economic Viability of Revamping Mulungushi Textiles Limited. Dissertation, University of Cape Town, p. 56. Retrieved from https://open.uct.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11427/25081/thesis_com_2017_munoni_chiluba_mercy.pdf?sequence=1
Olesen, J. (2018). Color Symbolism in Chinese Culture: What do Traditional Chinese Colors Mean? https://www.color-meanings.com/
Thomas, A., & Schenk, E. (2014). Beruflich in China. Trainingsprogramm für Manger, Fach-und Führungskräfte (5th ed.). Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
Thompsell, A. (2018). Get the Definition of Ubuntu, a Nguni Word with Several Meanings. ThoughtCo. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-meaning-of-ubuntu-43307
Tutu, D. (2000). No Future Without Forgiveness: A Personal Overview of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Retrieved from https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/181253/no-future-without-forgiveness-by-desmond-tutu/9780385496902
United Nations Statistics. (2018). Zambia. General Information. Economic Indicators. Retrieved from http://data.un.org/en/iso/zm.html
Zambia Business Times. (2018, July 19). Zambia’s 2018 Half Year Economic Performance Highlights. Retrieved from https://zambiabusinesstimes.com/2018/07/19/zambias-2018-half-year-economic-performance-highlights-mof/
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Boness, C.M., Wei, N., Mayer, CH. (2019). Case 3: Dealing with Organisational Structures, Decision-Making and Participation in the Zambian Textile Industry. In: Mayer, CH., Louw, L., Boness, C.M. (eds) Managing Chinese-African Business Interactions. Palgrave Studies in African Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25185-7_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25185-7_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-25184-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-25185-7
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)