RESEARCH PROJECTS

Ecocentric Ethics in Business

Benefits for Organizations :

•  Integrate sustainable development with CSR approaches

• Take organizations beyond the practices associated with the “3 R's” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

•  Develop a “naturalist” intelligence for business

Conducted in collaboration with GERME (Groupe d'éducation et de recherche sur le management et l'écologie, HEC Montréal), this project aims to better integrate “naturalist” intelligence in business. This intelligence uses ecocentric ethics in particular, different from yet complementary to the utilitarian ethics present in the majority of businesses. We are convinced that the combination of these forms of ethics will facilitate the emergence of innovations which are important and positive both for the efficiency of business and for ecological well-being.

One of the methodologies that we currently favor in this project is derived from our research on integral leadership . In studying the long evolution of ecocentric ethics among great leaders such as Rachel Carson, Jane Goodall and David Suzuki – who are “also”, each in their turn, scientists of great stature – we are attempting to detect the mechanisms by which they have been able to integrate different yet complementary forms of ethics in their lives. This skill of complementary integration may well be essential in helping those industries that have important technological impacts on nature, such as biogenetics, agri-business and tourism.

Researchers : Paul Lanoie, Robert Leblanc, Georgia Pappas, Thierry C. Pauchant

Current and Future Papers  :

Pauchant, T.C., & Fortier, I. (1990). Anthropocentric Ethics in Organizations, Strategic Management and the Environment: a Typology , Advances in strategic Management, 6, 99-114.

Natasha Cournoyer : “Environmental Ethics – A Case Study”, research project.

Fundraising campaign for this project