The Ecosystem of Ethical Decision Making: Key Drivers for Shaping the Corporate Ethical Character


Published: Jun 30, 2025
Keywords:
Corporate Social Responsibility corporate ethics Ethics of Care well-being ethical decision-making virtue social welfare justice
Maria Sartzetaki
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9564-5332
Antonia Moutzouri
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7078-3037
Aristi Karagkouni
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4596-8069
Dimitrios Dimitriou
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5744-5110
Abstract

In today’s global economy, large corporations possess considerable power and exert a profound impact on the societies and the environments in which they operate. The effectiveness of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives can widely vary, depending on how well they align moral principles and social expectations, thus enhancing their impact on societal welfare and environmental sustainability. This paper examines the practical application of ethical theories in the corporate world, moving beyond normative prescriptions to what defines a corporation’s ethical character. The transition to applied ethics represents a shift towards actionable guidance and contextual relevance in a way that takes into account all the involved forces and the practical implications for various stakeholders. A conceptual framework is developed to depict the relationships and decision-making influences within a socio-economic system and outline an ethical zone where care and justice ethics converge, indicating that decisions are just and do not neglect the welfare of individual stakeholders, society and the environment.

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Author Biographies
Maria Sartzetaki, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece

Assistant Professor, Member of MaGBISE Research Lab, Department of Economics, Democritus University of Thrace.

MaGBISE (Management, Governance, Business Intelligence, Strategy and Corporate Ethics in Infrastructure Operators, Networks and Supply Chain) Research Laboratory, Department of Economics, DUTh

Aristi Karagkouni, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece

Adjusted Lecturer, Post Doc. Researcher, Member of MaGBISE Research Lab, Department of Economics, Democritus University of Thrace.

MaGBISE (Management, Governance, Business Intelligence, Strategy and Corporate Ethics in Infrastructure Operators, Networks and Supply Chain) Research Laboratory, Department of Economics, DUTh

Dimitrios Dimitriou, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece

Professor, Head of the Department of Economics, Director of MaGBISE Research Lab, Democritus University of Thrace

MaGBISE (Management, Governance, Business Intelligence, Strategy and Corporate Ethics in Infrastructure Operators, Networks and Supply Chain) Research Laboratory, Department of Economics, DUTh

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