Interdisplinary Journal of Research and Development “Alexander Moisiu“ University, Durrës, Albania Vol (I), No.2, 2014 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 67 Paper presented in VI th International Scientific Conference on Economic Policy and EU Integration Business Faculty, “Aleksander Moisiu” University December, 2014 THE PROCESS OF CONSCIOUS CORPORATE GROWTH: A VIRTUE ETHICS APPROACH TO PRACTICE SUSTAINABILITY Mario CARRASSI Department of Economics / University of Bari – Aldo Moro E_mail: mario.carrassi@uniba.it 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. Key words: corporate growth, economics, moral agency, organisational development, virtue ethics Introduction Whether a company should be treated as a person has been the subject of ongoing debate, often related to the nature of moral agency. This paper takes a different approach. It introduces the concept of conscious corporate growth, and then considers whether this is a utopian ideal of no practical value or a useful framework for further investigation. Taking the latter view, a process based on the use of a compass of values is described which can be used to promote conscious corporate growth. “The company is a human being”. To say that a company has the essential attributes of a human being is a provocative statement - French (1995), for instance, argues that a corporation can be a moral agent while Velasquez (2003) and many others disagree - but one cannot deny that companies are composed of people and people are fundamental for the existence of the company. The human being is the element that gives birth to the company and that feeds its growth, through a combination of tangible and measurable inputs (investments, work time, work efforts) and intangible inputs (creativeness, emotions, willingness). Human beings also define the culture, the orientation of the core strategy and the governance prerogatives of the company. Therefore, in order to investigate the manifestations of existence of a company, one must