14 October 2025
Bilbao Campus
Thomas Donaldson, Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics at The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania), met during the week of 13 October with various student and faculty groups at Deusto Business School, sharing some of the key findings from his research in the fields of business ethics and corporate strategy. A consistent theme in his research has been advocating for the defence and promotion of human dignity as the ultimate goal of economic activity.
Donaldson also outlined some directions of his current research, which focuses on the alignment between the values that shape a company’s organisational culture and their consistency with the decisions made and the outcomes achieved.
During his visit to Deusto Business School, facilitated by the Vizcaina Aguirre Foundation, the Wharton professor outlined his proposal for establishing a framework that enables organisations to align values, strategy, operational decisions and achieved outcomes. These outcomes refer to the economic, social and environmental impact that the company generates in society.
Professor Ricardo Aguado, who facilitated the meeting, explained the significance of Donaldson’s theory: “At a time when young university graduates are finding it difficult to feel motivated in the world of business management, Donaldson’s framework offers companies a way to choose the values they wish to promote within their organisations and across society as a whole, and then align them coherently with business decision-making, strategy, and the economic, environmental and social outcomes achieved.”
This approach to business can bring the values of the younger generation closer to those of companies and generate new motivation to work in management, based on contributing to human dignity and societal well-being through businesses that are economically profitable and socially and environmentally responsible.
