The global aim of our department is to overcome the longstanding conceptual separation between ethics and business as if they were distinct and unrelated subject matters, and to develop effective ways to imbue managerial activity and business organizations with ethics.
Currently, our main research areas are the following:
Ethical Issues in Management
Linking ethical principles and criteria with business practice requires a deep understanding of both the principles and the company’s activities. The objective of this research area is to study different issues of current interest such as the management of people, finance, accounting, marketing, operations and information technologies.
Business and Society
This research area is aimed at increasing the understanding of the nature and mission of the business, and of relationships between business and society, including the phenomenon of globalization. In connection with this, particular attention is paid to analyzing and studying the social responsibilities of firms
Ethical decision-making
This area concerns the ways that organizational decision-making affects the person, which in turn affects subsequent organizational decision-making. Given this dynamic, organizational goals, practices, systems and structures are analyzed for consistency between the intended and achieved results of organizational action.
Corporate Ethics and Organizational Cultures
Corporate ethics includes statements, policies, programs, as well as commitments and attitudes, mainly of senior management. Organizational cultures, express by shared beliefs, values and habitual practices reflect the ethics currently present in organizational life. Our research in this area is twofold. Firstly, studying organizational cultures, mainly through cases, and determining which factors shape them. Secondly, analyzing corporate ethical statements, including corporate mission statements, corporate credos and values, codes of conduct, etc., focussing on their philosophical bases, specific practices, diffusion, acceptation and effectiveness.
Christianity in Business and Management
Since its origins Christianity, which is at the root of Occidental civilization, has presented a significant moral and social contribution to different fields including business. Our aim is to study this tradition and to relate it to the current situation of business. Christian spirituality in management is also a relevant part of our research.
Philosophy of Management
We research the underlying philosophical bases in business management, organizational design, administration theory and practice. Currently, we are leading projects related with the philosophical foundations of management and organizations, as well as the epistemology, anthropology and ethics underlying the thought of classical organizational management scholars.
