TY - JOUR

T1 - Blinded by the Light

T2 - A critique on the universality, normativity, and hegemony of paradox theory and research

AU - Seidemann, Iris

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

PY - 2024/10/1

Y1 - 2024/10/1

N2 - This paper intervenes in paradox theory and research by problematizing the taken-for-granted premises that currently dominate the field. Building on the “growing pains” of paradox theory, the paper offers three provocations for current paradox theory and research: it questions the conceptual universality of paradox, reveals the implicit normativity of some of its key assumptions, and problematizes the hegemony of the conception of both/and as core to responses to paradox. Deliberately stepping beyond the established guardrails of paradox theory, the paper critically assesses these premises and reflects on their potential risks and blind spots. Building on these three provocations, the paper offers in turn a set of distinct pathways for theoretical development, including interpreting presupposed features of paradox in light of ontological positions, integrating normative approaches into paradox management, and introducing much greater granularity to the study of paradox responses.

AB - This paper intervenes in paradox theory and research by problematizing the taken-for-granted premises that currently dominate the field. Building on the “growing pains” of paradox theory, the paper offers three provocations for current paradox theory and research: it questions the conceptual universality of paradox, reveals the implicit normativity of some of its key assumptions, and problematizes the hegemony of the conception of both/and as core to responses to paradox. Deliberately stepping beyond the established guardrails of paradox theory, the paper critically assesses these premises and reflects on their potential risks and blind spots. Building on these three provocations, the paper offers in turn a set of distinct pathways for theoretical development, including interpreting presupposed features of paradox in light of ontological positions, integrating normative approaches into paradox management, and introducing much greater granularity to the study of paradox responses.

KW - critical intervention

KW - emancipatory theorizing

KW - paradox theory

KW - Management studies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105000640987&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/26317877241290248

DO - 10.1177/26317877241290248

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:105000640987

VL - 5

SP - 1

EP - 25

JO - Organization Theory

JF - Organization Theory

SN - 2631-7877

IS - 4

ER -