Making Wiser Decisions in Organizations: Insights from Inter-Processual Self Theory and Transcendental Anthropology

Abstract Current approaches in decision making, influenced by rationalist and pragmatist paradigms, offer notable strengths but fail to adequately address human growth, moral depth, and relational dynamics. Rationalist models emphasize universal principles and cognitive processing, offering structured approaches at the expense of human relationality and cultural diversity. Pragmatist approaches focus on adaptability and social context and provide flexibility, but their morally relativistic stance leads to ethical inconsistency. To address these gaps, we integrate Leonardo Polo’s transcendental personalist philosophy and the Inter-processual Self (IPS) Theory to redefine decision making as an opportunity for personal and relational growth. Grounded in anthropological insights, this framework prioritizes the human person as the center of moral action and decision making, fostering personal and relational growth through the transcendentals of personal love, knowledge, and freedom. We argue that this enriched perspective addresses critical limitations of existing models, enabling decision making to serve as a source of systemic wisdom and sustainable growth. By applying this framework to organizational contexts, we show how it enhances personal growth, and the persons’ transcendent motivation for virtues involving inter-relational growth and wisdom. Our approach offers a holistic and transformative lens to rethink decision making as a catalyst for individual and collective flourishing, providing actionable insights to meet contemporary challenges in business and society.