Competing in Complex Cross-Cultural World: Philosophical Insights from Yin-Yang

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose this paper is to comment on the “Global Implications of the Indigenous Epistemological System from the East: How to Apply Yin-Yang Balancing to Paradox Management” (Li, 2016), which is a timely and important piece. Li (2016) offers epistemological insights into what Yin-Yang is, why Yin-Yang can serve as a guiding frame of thinking and how to apply this frame of thinking to paradoxical issues to organizations that compete in a complex cross-cultural world. Western management philosophies and perspectives have dominated the mainstream theories in organization and management around the world over the past five decades, paying very limited attention and appreciation to Eastern philosophies that exist already for over 2,500 years (e.g. 551-479 BC’s Confucianism). In this commentary, the authors added more explanations, suggesting that given intensified complex and competing needs to fulfill for today’s businesses, the indigenous Eastern epistemological wisdom of Yin-Yang balancing is an ...