Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to argue that a natural law paradigm, based on the writings of Thomas Aquinas, is superior to the current consequentialist paradigm predominant in the business world today. The reasons for this are a natural law paradigm allows employers to develop employees as individual human beings, and not just as employees, a natural law paradigm allows for a more homogenous organizational ethic, because the criteria for unethical behavior is more comprehensive than a mere business case, and the above can be accomplished without diminishing the earning potential of the organization in a highly competitive market. ;The primary methods of augmentation include the citations of the writings of Aquinas, the findings of other researchers in the field of organizational ethics, and the introduction of a nineteen-point competency model, based on the natural law paradigm. It is also demonstrated that objectives formulated within this competency model meet SMART model criteria and are developable. The consequences of this thesis are also explored for the areas of organizational ethics, management theory, and environmental ethics