The Virtues and the Building of an Organizational Culture: Insights from the Dominican Tradition

Abstract

Organizational culture—shaped by the shared values, virtues, and behaviours of the individuals who constitute an institution—has become a defining factor for long-term stability, integrity, and success. Drawing on the philosophical insights of Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, this article argues that virtue is the foundation upon which effective and life-giving organizational cultures are built. Using the Dominican Order as a case study, the paper explores how an eight-century tradition grounded in prayer, study, community life, and mission offers a coherent and time-tested framework for cultivating the virtues necessary for personal and institutional flourishing. Each of the Dominican pillars is shown to generate specific virtues—such as humility, diligence, justice, prudence, charity, and fortitude—that shape both individual character and communal ethos. By examining the reciprocal relationship between the individual and the organization, the article demonstrates that the transformation of organizational culture begins with the formation of virtuous persons, whose habits and moral excellence naturally give rise to trust, collaboration, ethical leadership, and a shared sense of purpose. The Dominican model reveals that culture is not merely a set of structures or policies but a moral ecology sustained by the virtues of its members. In a contemporary context marked by speed, competition, and fragmentation, this virtue-based approach offers organizations a humanizing and enduring path toward well-being, cohesion, and mission-driven excellence.