The Process of Conscious Corporate Growth: A Virtue Ethics Approach to Practice Sustainability

Abstract

To strengthen human relations and create a valuable sense of unity, given the constant dissatisfaction that affects human behavior and hence corporate conduct, an improvement of the exchange of meanings and values among persons and organizations must be sought. A direct consequence would then be a shift from the identification of external and separated forms towards integrity and a sustainable quality of life. At both the individual and organizational levels it is fundamental to learn about how to face individualism through reciprocity, shortsighted decisions through sustainability, the search of instant gratification through the search for meaning, and the limited target of economic and financial growth through the comprehensive concept of Conscious Corporate Growth. This is, we contend, a manifestation of virtue ethics as a framework for responsible management. In the process of conscious corporate growth the organization develops its capacity to behave in a virtuous way, and to enhance its integrity. This integrity and the enhanced relationships and contribution to society are valued for themselves, as internal goods, not solely as external goods contributing to reputation and profit. This development process occurs within the community of the organization, and benefits from the identification of exemplars at both individual and corporate level. Whilst not yet claiming that conscious corporate growth is a practice as defined by MacIntyre, and recognizing his continuing antipathy toward contemporary business, we suggest that conscious corporate growth is a means for the development of virtuous organizations.