Dealing with Paradoxes in Organizations

Dealing with Paradoxes in Organizations

Organizations are paradoxical in lots of ways and executives have to decide what to do with the intrinsically contradicting nature of many managerial issues.
It's useful to distinguish two (paradoxical!) approaches if you're faced with a paradox in an organization:
1. ACCEPT THE PARADOX.
1A. The poles cannot be solved by their very nature
1B. The poles operate at different levels of the organization (e.g. individual, departmental, business unit, corporate level)
1C. The poles operate at different moments in time (following each other).
2. (TRY TO) SOLVE THE PARADOX.
2A. Choose for one of the opposite sides (dilemma)
2B. Strike a balance between the two poles (average/trade off)
2C. Integrate the two poles (synthesis).
So next time you're facing a complex organizational issue, try to "play" in your mind with the above 2 approaches towards paradoxes at the same time.

		Comments Sort by date Sort by rating Rating
		2 Denny, United States
	Source of Paradoxes Whenever a Paradox presents itself, be it in business or life, the access to moving beyond it is to ... Sign up

		0 James C., UK
	Definition of Paradox Wikipedia says a paradox is a statement or group of statements that leads to a contradiction or a si... Sign up

		4 Jaap de Jonge Editor, Netherlands
	Reconcilating seemingly contradicting forces, interests and approaches Indeed Lothar, organizations are complex and can be viewed as meeting places for colliding forces, i... Sign up

		2 Sheila, India
	Assuming other Persons' Perspective Paradoxes are apparent contradictions, manifested as a result of the differences in perceived realit... Sign up

		0 Tom Wilson HR Consultant, United States
	Paradox as Healthy Dynamic Paradox is largely the result of the limitations of language at the point where metaphor fails. Mar... Sign up