The Ubuntu principle is an African concept born out of cultural practices. It stems from the Nguni culture, which entails major ethnic groups in Southern Africa such as the Ndebele, Zulu, Xhosa, Swati, and Shona [1]. Thus, it defines African humanness based on commonalities that advocate for the unity of purpose anchored on supporting and feeling for each other [2]. In this view, it exposes the idea that no one can be satisfied and healthy when the community is not well. In this regard, Ubuntu principles shape communities, cultures, and individual lives across Africa [3]. In support, Lopez [4] and Hapanyengwi-Chemhuru and Shizha [5] reiterate that ubuntu principles are all about interdependence and mutuality, making the ubuntu principles appeal to many people across Africa and beyond as it cherishes values and attitudes that are familiar to them. Hence, it can be observed as a catalyst that can shape business ethics and corporate governance by establishing high standards for collaboration, responsibility, accountability, transparency, collectivism, and ethics [6].

In this regard, several aspects, such as interpersonal and community relationships, can be utilized to shape IT governance practices in most African countries [7]. Its emphasis on humanity, compassion, and social responsibility has the potential to facilitate solutions to and avert business scandals in business organizations [8]. It is envisaged that ethical governance practices based on the principle of Ubuntu provide attractive alternative conventions of moral decision-making and a useful language for understanding moral reasoning [9]. However, in Zimbabwe, it has been noted that there was an absence of self-restraint by individuals due to self-interest, which is envisaged to be the missing link in IT-related operations. It is against this background that this paper sought to gain insight into this gap by exploring how embracing Ubuntu principles can foster IT governance practices in organizational operations in Zimbabwe.

Research Problem

Zimbabwe now considers IT as one of the key drivers that foster economic development and organizational resilience. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised around the strategies that can be effectively used to adopt IT governance practices to drive Zimbabwe's innovation and industrialization mantra. These concerns are at times a result of skewed importance, restricted shareholder participation, and scarce prominence on Ubuntu-focused principles. In addition, the dearth of socially pertinent contexts intensifies these concerns and has resulted in difficulties around establishing inclusive and sustainable governance systems. Hence, the call to embrace Ubuntu principles is grounded in the ethos of interconnectedness to offer exclusive prospects capable of addressing the raised concerns. Despite this call for the need to embrace Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices, there have been scarce efforts to undertake this initiative to endorse accountability and answerable policymaking in organizations. It is in this context that we acknowledge that without closing this identified gap, Zimbabwe risks stagnating in its IT governance processes, leaving organizations deprived of the tools they need to advance the innovation and industrialization mantra.

Research Focus

This paper sought to advance evidence-based insights into the issue, grounded in the following objective: to establish the extent to which Ubuntu principles have been embraced into IT governance practices to foster processes in organizations.

Research Aim and Research Questions

This aims to understand how different scholars articulated the extent to which Ubuntu principles have been embraced into IT governance practices to foster processes in organizations.

Literature Review

In a bid to understand how organizations' processes have embraced Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices, this paper has adopted the stakeholder theory as a lens guiding analysis and discussion.  Stakeholder theory has its premise on the management of those constituencies that have direct or indirect links with a business organization. According to Freudenreich, Ludeke-Freund, and Schaltegger [10], stakeholders are groups of people and individuals who can affect or be affected by the activities of business organizations connected to value creation and trade.  The stakeholder theory attempts to address the principle of who or what counts within an organization.

Recent studies have established that the activities of organizations are no longer solely for the shareholders but are now accountable to the external environment, which is host to several groups of stakeholders [11,12]. Furthermore, the duo highlights that the stakeholder perspective stipulates that a corporate entity invariably seeks to provide a balance between the interests of its diverse stakeholders to ensure that each interest constituency receives some degree of satisfaction. In an organization, it is the prerogative of the board of directors to ensure that balanced attention is given to ensure that the interests of all groups are considered. Marie L'Huillier [13] concurs, stressing that the governing board, under the umbrella of corporate governance, achieves corporate goals by performing a balancing act with the often-conflicting interests of these different groups.

A systematic literature review approach was used in an attempt to gain insights [14] into the issue at the center of discussion in this paper. We selected this approach based on its ability to provide an in-depth understanding of the complex issue [15] concerning the embracing of Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices. This called for the use of the document analysis method to analyze the purposively selected sources. These sources were selected from reputable databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and Elsevier. This all-inclusive search approach was used under the guidance of predefined inclusive and exclusive criteria [16]. Keywords identified either from the topic or the problem were selected to enhance the search and guarantee importance. The identified keywords included combinations such as "Ubuntu philosophy," "Ubuntu principles," "Ubuntu AND governance," and "governance practices." The first phase of the selection process involved identifying the predominant issues to ensure orientation towards the paper's focus. The second phase was engrossed in screening relevant sources through the use of abstracts, titles, and keywords as primary pointers of significance. The third phase took on board the articulated use of the inclusion and exclusion criteria to narrow down the number of sources published between 2010 and 2025.

Figure 1: Source Selection Flow Diagram.

From Figure 1, it can be noted that 85 potential sources were identified and retrieved. These sources were assessed for their suitability, and those focusing on issues at the center of this paper were considered. This resulted in 40 sources being excluded as they did not meet the stipulated inclusion criteria. The retrieved sources were then further examined to select those focusing on the core subject matter, and 34 were removed as these did not meet the inclusion criteria. Of the 51 sources considered relevant, 5 sources were further excluded as they were not written in English. Subsequently, 46 articles were selected to be discussed in detail relating to the issue under investigation. In this review, content analysis was used, where themes and patterns were systematically extracted from purposively selected literature sources. This provided a robust foundation for deriving themes and patterns that reflect the interplay between Ubuntu principles and governance practices. It ensured the study's findings were firmly rooted in reliable and pertinent sources, contributing to its credibility and depth.

This section discusses the emerging themes, patterns, and a possible governance model that fuses the Ubuntu practices with those from Western frameworks. The stakeholder theory and ubuntu principles are further analyzed as sources of several linkages, patterns, and themes with a view of coming up with a governance framework that promotes good leadership and governance practices in Zimbabwe in particular and Africa at large. In establishing the linkages between Ubuntu principles and governance practices, a comparison of these was pursued to generate a framework with a bias towards African experiences.

Conceptualization of Ubuntu Practices and IT Governance Practices

The African communities and those found in Zimbabwe have inductive posterior knowledge systems that are familiar to indigenous people. This knowledge system is obtained through experience and observation. Nansubuga and Munene [17] postulate that inductive posterior knowledge is acquired through experience and observation based on personal experiences. These personal experiences enable individuals to draw conclusions based on specific occurrences. The duo further attests that Ubuntu dramaturgy, an approach to theatre performance, is another concept that emphasizes community collaboration and social responsibility rooted in principles of Ubuntu philosophy. Aliye [18] highlights that governance and leadership failures in Africa are attributed to a lack of leadership that connects with societal values and cultures. Wane et al. [19] further stressed that the development and adoption of Gada, Ubuntu, and other Indigenous leadership practices are recommended as a remedy to Africa's leadership and IT governance problems. Thus, a coherent framework that is tailored to social interactions and contextual needs of the people and their communities can promote productive knowledge and knowledge management systems in the African context.

Tladi [20] emphasizes that Ubuntu is demonstrated by humanness, the universal spirit of compassion, community, harmony, hospitality, respect, and responsiveness that individuals and groups show for one another. In agreement, Asamoah and Yeboah-Assiamah [21] highlight that Africans from early childhood are socialized to understand that difficult situations can be collectively solved. Setlhodi [22] further stresses that the Ubuntu spirit and values are born through this upbringing and exhibit values of compassion, respect, and dignity. In this context, compassion is explained as the human quality of understanding other people's problems and wanting to assist them in whatever ways possible. In this kind of setting, compassion is reaching out to others so that relationships and friendships can be formed and based on humanism.

In agreement, Mensele and Khanyetsi [23] emphasize that Ubuntu-grounded leadership is about paying attention to the needs and aspirations of others and allaying their fears of any harm. The current leadership in organizations should adopt homegrown governance principles with the Ubuntu values, which bring in the humanism aspect, which values the concerns of others. Hapanyengwi and Shizha [5] reiterate that the principles of Ubuntu appeal to people in leadership because they appreciate values and attitudes that are already cherished by cultures. Such virtues include hospitality, fraternity, courtesy, self-sacrifice for the benefit of family and community, kindness, humility, consideration, gentleness, fairness, responsibility, honesty, justice, trustworthiness, hard work, integrity, and above all, tolerance. All these virtues are regarded as fundamental to humanity. Thus, to decide to use Ubuntu principles in leadership and governance practices is to choose one and collaborate.

Although Ubuntu principles and governance practices from various governance frameworks have similarities, like those from the UK, Asia, and Europe, these are compatible with specific cultural values and experiences from particular countries [24]. Similarly, Zimbabwe has its socio-cultural values premised on ubuntu, which has a direct impact on people-centered systems encompassing leadership, employee welfare, extended family systems, caring, sharing, and governance. In this context, it will be prudent to adopt the indigenous set of values to assist corporations in making sound judgments premised on ubuntu principles [25].

Theoretical Issues Underpinning Ubuntu Principles and IT Governance Practices

Ubuntu principles and IT governance practices are underpinned by contrasting theoretical frameworks, creating both opportunities and challenges for integration. Ubuntu's emphasis on communal responsibility, interconnectedness, and ethical deliberation contrasts with the structured and compliance-driven nature of traditional IT governance models, which prioritize efficiency and standardization.  Jones, Harrison, and Felps [26] opine that the stakeholder theory borders on the issues concerning the stakeholders' interests and not those of the shareholders only and invariably seeks to provide a balance among the interests of its diverse stakeholders to ensure that each constituency receives some degree of satisfaction. The stakeholder theory borrows its thrust from the premise that the organization has many parties that have an interest in it as a result of its activities [27]. Borissova, Korsemov, and Mustakerov [28] reiterate that there are many other parties involved and interested in business activities and that the interest of these groups should be considered by business decision-makers. Examples of these parties include local communities, the public, government, non-governmental organizations, and pressure groups pursuing various interests like environmental lobbyists, suppliers, and customers [29].

Management that is inspired by Ubuntu principles would consult widely with stakeholders when coming up with decisions. This increases accountability and transparency. Filatotchev and Nakajima [30] observe that stakeholder theory has become more prominent because many researchers have recognized that the activities of a corporate entity impact the external environment, requiring accountability of the organization to a wider audience than simply its shareholders. This is more inclusive than steward and agency theories, which focused most on shareholders and management. In light of this assertion, Kupangwa [31] contends that it is generally accepted that ubuntu has the potential to turn into a progressive transformative force shaping corporate governance and management practices, as it is informed by underlying ubuntu principles. It's significant to acknowledge that the relevance of embracing Ubuntu principles is centered on principles rooted in African philosophical traditions. Thus, it balances the ethical and inclusive ethos of Ubuntu with the agility and innovation required in IT governance.  

The Nexus between Ubuntu Principles and IT Governance Practices in Nurturing Organizational Operations in Zimbabwe

This section sought to interrogate the existence of a synergy between Ubuntu principles and IT governance practices, which is expected to enhance processes in organizations.  Thus, Ubuntu principles bring on board issues to do with interconnectedness, reciprocated esteem, and collective accountability, stuck in the credence that "I am because we are" [32] In the same way, IT governance practices place much significance on the need to align technology and organizational targets. This creates the need for an adoptive alliance and guarantees accountability in organizational processes. This nexus makes available a path to embrace Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices. This is made possible by refining harmonious, principled, and communal-driven practices. Hence, through embracing Ubuntu principles, organizations can transform their IT governance practices from transactional states into ones grounded in human-centered policymaking. In this case, the nexus ensures that technological developments improve the collective well-being of organizational processes. In addition, Ubuntu principles underscore inclusivity and partnership that resonate well with IT governance practices' emphasis on stakeholder rendezvous [33]. In the same line, we acknowledge that IT governance practices create a platform where stakeholders are protagonists in decision-making when it comes to technology investments and approaches. Hence, embracing Ubuntu principles like collective drive inspires stakeholders’ total engagement to guarantee that all voices are perceived and treasured. At the center of this proposed nexus is the advancement of transparency and trust within the organization. This ensures that employees are empowered, leading to their active contribution to technological development in organizations [17]. It’s significant to highlight that embracing Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices is not only deliberate but also discerning of the organization's uniqueness and moral significance.

This paper noted that Ubuntu principles create an intellect that individuals should be answerable for their actions within society. This creates a principle of veracity and principled behavior in individuals as they interact in society for a common goal. In the same sense, IT governance practices safeguard accountability through the articulation of well-defined responsibilities under the guidance of developed guidelines to enhance the effective management of IT resources. This concurs with Tladi [20], who postulated that accountability and collective responsibility form an integral component of both Ubuntu principles and IT governance practices. Hence, embracing Ubuntu practices into IT governance practices can help create environments where accountability is ingrained within the organizational culture. This nexus guarantees that verdicts are made with a sense of accountability and proprietorship, thereby minimizing the chances of exposing the organization to menaces [31]. In addition, incorporating Ubuntu practices into IT governance practices creates a holistic lens that favors prioritizing resolutions that are to the advantage of the collective interests. This amplifies the organization’s agility and adaptability; it enables it to answer proactively to technological distractions, market fluctuations, or social alterations [32]. In other words, as organizations embrace Ubuntu principles in IT governance practices, they become more agile and resilient, since their strategies are community-driven. This interconnectedness, cross-functional alliance, and strategic configuration endorse a holistic method to enhance decision-making and problem-solving within organizations [35]. This nurtures a sense of collective resolve, which ensures efficient, equitable, and socially responsible processes, thereby firming the organization's moral underpinning.

Besides, embracing Ubuntu principles in IT governance practices has the potential to enable innovation and creativity within the organizational processes. In this case, Ubuntu principles place much emphasis on aspects such as shared knowledge. When this is embraced into IT governance practices, it advances the idea of the exchange of ideas across the departments within the organization through open communication [36]. In such an environment, Ubuntu principles reduce interpersonal conflicts and enhance collaboration, thereby promoting innovation in a cohesive and supportive environment [37]. This positions the organizations in a situation that favors forward-looking and community-oriented approaches in this evolving digital era.  Therefore, the embracing of Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices creates a symbiotic connection that can redefine organizational processes with the view of making them more inclusive, adaptive, and ethical.

This section centers on the discussion of how embracing Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices has presented a possible solution concerning the need to foster ethical and community-based technology-driven organizational processes in Zimbabwe. In this instance, Ubuntu principles advance the need for interconnectedness and collective responsibility to align IT governance practices’ aspects of inclusivity, reverence, and collective growth. This concurs with Masondo [38] and Nzimakwe [39], who implored the relevance of Ubuntu principles in governance and leadership, as these advance the need for ethical decision-making and the provision of quality service. So, embracing Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices can ensure that organizations' decisions concerning the use of technology center around their interests and those of the community at large. This helps in building trust, accountability, and equitable access to relevant technology. It is important to note that for organizations to successfully adopt Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices, there is a need for organizations to solve several challenges, such as the absence of clear guidelines for implementation, inadequate mindfulness of the Ubuntu principles’ significance to different technological circumstances, and confrontation with transformation among shareholders. This can be supported by Ajitoni [40], who advanced that Ubuntu principles foster the sense of solidarity and cooperation among the shareholders, which benefits IT governance through ensuring shared responsibility and inclusivity. 

In this regard, organizations might struggle to embrace Ubuntu principles’ communal approach to IT governance practices in situations that, in most instances, are driven by individualistic and profit-driven primacies. This can be cemented by Harris [41] and Mzezewa [42], who postulated that Ubuntu-inspired governance has the potential to generate an impartial and sustainable operational environment. Hence, through this nexus, organizations can create a shared vision rooted in Ubuntu-inspired IT governance systems, which prioritize principled behavior and sustainable development. This balance can inspire other nations to rethink their IT governance strategies, highlighting the role of indigenous philosophies in shaping the future of technology management. This approach enhances Zimbabwe’s IT governance capabilities as well as the importance of integrating local values into global trends. Hence, by embracing Ubuntu principles in IT governance practices, Zimbabwe can develop an innovative IT governance system rooted in cultural identity. This aligns with Cruz [43], who postulated the impression that indigenous doctrines can be an alternative in transforming the global technology management approaches. Thus, in strategic management, Ubuntu principles inform a holistic approach to planning, emphasising the collective impact of decisions and ensuring sustainable and equitable organizational emphasizing growth. These applications demonstrate Ubuntu's versatility in creating management practices that are not only efficient but also deeply ethical and community-oriented. 

Proposed Ubuntu-Oriented IT Governance Framework

Zimbabwe has been the recipient of governance frameworks and reports to improve governance practices. As a result, several organizations joined the bandwagon of training corporates in both the public and private sectors. In the same view, IT governance practices have taken over through the 4th Industrial Revolution. In this regard, an Ubuntu-oriented IT framework is envisaged to curb malpractice by emphasizing ethical principles and collective responsibility. In addition, in an Ubuntu-informed IT framework, decision-making is collective, and responsibility is shared. This communal approach encourages IT experts to act in the best interest of the group rather than focusing solely on personal gain. In IT governance, this translates to greater transparency and accountability, where team members hold each other accountable for ethical conduct, reducing the likelihood of malpractice such as data breaches, corruption, or fraud. Therefore, countries or continents can have governance models with distinct features or characteristics that distinguish them from structures in other countries or continents [44]. 

This paper introduces an innovative Ubuntu-oriented IT governance model that incorporates values such as community, solidarity, and shared humanity into IT governance practices. It emphasizes the importance of examining the contrasts between traditional IT governance approaches and those inspired by Ubuntu principles. This analysis lays the foundation for understanding the necessity and advantages of adopting this new, Ubuntu-oriented governance framework. Through this model, IT governance seeks to align technical practices with the cultural ethos of collective well-being and ethical collaboration. Below is a comparative table highlighting the comparative schedule of the IT governance practices and Ubuntu-oriented governance principles.

Table 1: A Comparative Schedule of IT Governance Practices and Ubuntu-Oriented IT Governance Practices.

The above table articulates the essential divergences, showcasing how Ubuntu-oriented IT governance practices can promote a more human-centered, ethical, and inclusive approach. Hence, this buttresses the need to embrace Ubuntu principles in IT governance practices.  From this, we put forward the proposed model that establishes themes, patterns, and linkages that can be drawn from the intersections of Ubuntu principles and IT governance practices. This model emphasizes collective responsibility, ethical leadership, and the prioritization of communal well-being over individual gain. It seeks to address challenges in IT governance by fostering collaboration, inclusivity, and a sense of shared purpose among stakeholders. Below is a proposed Ubuntu-oriented IT governance framework. 

Figure 2: The Proposed Ubuntu-Oriented IT Governance Framework.

In this respect, an Ubuntu-oriented governance framework is proposed. Tladi [20] observed that one of the cornerstone characteristics of the concept of ubuntu principles is fostering ‘interdependence,’ ‘collectivism,’ or ‘solidarity’ within all human endeavors, including organizations. In this regard, the indigenous worldview considers human beings as being inextricably bound together spiritually. To achieve this goal, human development and initiatives should be geared towards the attainment of solidarity and collectivism. If there is togetherness, a common destiny, and mutually beneficial outcomes can be attained [45]. The following seven guiding principles act as a guide for the framework:

• Interconnectedness (Ubuntu) and stakeholder engagement (IT Governance)
• Collective responsibility (Ubuntu) and accountability (IT governance)
• Respect and dignity (Ubuntu) and ethics (IT governance) for all stakeholders
• Empathy and compassion (Ubuntu) and social responsibility (IT governance) in decision-making
• Collaboration and consensus (Ubuntu) and effective decision-making (IT governance)—building relationships
• Reciprocity and mutual benefit (Ubuntu) and sustainable value creation (IT governance)
• Humility and servant leadership (Ubuntu) and effective leadership (IT governance).

The development and validation of the proposed Ubuntu-oriented governance framework involves a systematic and iterative process designed to ensure its relevance and applicability. It begins with conceptualization and framework design, where Ubuntu principles are aligned with governance practices such as accountability, fairness, equity, and transparency to create the framework’s theoretical foundation [46]. This framework is a result of the interrogation of some of the existing governance frameworks in the consulted literature sources, and this enabled us to identify gaps and the opportunity for this novelty. This advances a scenario whereby shareholders and experts are consulted to gather their diverse perspectives concerning the constructs of the framework. It is from the validation of these constructs that a prototype is then developed with an emphasis on defining core principles and operational strategies.  This was followed by pilot testing the framework in several organizations to assess its feasibility and practicality. Based on feedback, the framework can be refined and validated through peer reviews.  As a way of ensuring credibility, the refined framework needs to be endorsed by academics and experts from industry and commerce [47,48].  It is after this that the framework is disseminated far and wide, supported by training programs and best practices. This can enhance the embracing of the framework into organizational processes. These scenarios are expected to ensure that the framework is theoretically robust and practically viable.

Limitations and Implications for Generalizability

The review was affected by quite several limitations, which impact the generalizability of the results:

Data Granularity: The lack of detailed context-specific information tends to bring about incomprehensible insights concerning the influence of Ubuntu principles on IT governance practices. This minimizes the precision of the analysis and the representativeness of the conclusion.

Methodological Assumptions: The applicability of Ubuntu principles to IT governance practices tends to introduce bias through the framing of governance contests using a culturally specific lens. In addition, the overdependence on existing theoretical underpinnings has the potential to limit the establishment of alternative governance frameworks. 

Sectoral Composition: The results largely echo contexts where Ubuntu principles are culturally embedded. As a result, insights tend not to fully apply to organizations with different structures and varying levels of digital maturity.

It is imperative to be vigilant when applying these results to organizations with specific governance structures and unique operational contexts.

The nexus between the Ubuntu principles and IT governance practices results in the development of a hybrid Ubuntu-oriented IT governance framework in Zimbabwe. This framework embraces Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices with emphasis on both the organization's profitability and humanity.  Thus, it develops a fertile organizational culture, which enhances interconnectedness, collective responsibility, and accountability to drive sustainable growth. Hence, this framework serves as an ideal Ubuntu-oriented IT governance framework for sustainable organizational processes. This is so since they seek to redefine their governance systems, where success and shareholder well-being congregate. This impulsively creates the need for sound corporate social responsibility programs, such that the organizations can balance the interests of all the key stakeholders. In addition, embracing Ubuntu principles can assist in creating a more compassionate, inclusive, and balanced operating environment in organizations. Such an environment has the potential to foster a holistic and sustainable governance strategy through the adoption of a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, accountability, collective responsibility, and teamwork in decision-making processes. By embracing Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices, organizations are in a position to focus on their success as well as on the aspects of social responsibility. Therefore, embracing Ubuntu principles into IT governance practices has great potential in addressing Zimbabwe’s socio-economic issues through inclusive and transparent decision-making.

Suggestions for Future Research

For future research, we recommend that emphasis be on the development of governance frameworks, which seamlessly infuse morals into the demands of modern technology. Key areas of exploration include the impact of Ubuntu principles on organizational transparency, accountability, stakeholder engagement, and community welfare, providing critical insights into the advantages and challenges of this approach. Case studies of successful implementations locally and globally can offer practical lessons and highlight best practices, while comparative research on culturally rooted governance frameworks worldwide can further underscore Ubuntu's potential in fostering inclusive and sustainable IT ecosystems. There is also a need to undertake studies on how an Ubuntu-oriented framework can address digital equity, cybersecurity, and ethical challenges. This should be seen as the basis for promoting innovation and collaboration in diverse technological environments.  

Acknowledgements: None

Conflict of Interest: None

Funding: The authors received no funding for this research.

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