Despite several concerted efforts previously made by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to tackle human factors challenges in developing countries, the wide range of new work situations and new technology products delivered within majority-world/environments continue to create significant human factors encounters in emerging economies. Research shows that one of the most significant challenges in this regard has been accepting and applying human factors in product design in industrially developing countries (IDC). This is informed by the limited ergonomics knowledge available to support product design in these countries. This results in a scant appreciation for cultural features for successfully delivering human factors benefits in developing countries. Furthermore, limited attempts have identified a requisite contextualised philosophy that can be used to promote and support ergonomics knowledge and application in developing countries. This chapter proposes the adoption of the Ubuntu philosophy as a basis for promoting human factors in product design. Ubuntu is an Afrikan philosophy that embraces humanity and promotes a human-centred approach to socio-technical solutions. Further, Ubuntu advances tenets seemingly overlapping with human factors precepts. Consequently, it is argued that combining Ubuntu and human factors can enrich the discipline and encourage its application in product design. The authors maintain that the Ubuntu philosophy provides a unique platform on which ergonomics can be explained and adequately applied in the Afrikan context to enhance its acceptance, application and understanding in product design. The chapter further argues that adopting the philosophy of Ubuntu can offer products made from the Afrikan region a competitive edge in the international market.

Projects

Currently no objects available

Currently no objects available