Impacting Grand Challenges: A 'Both/And' Approach

Abstract

In this panel symposium, we seek to build on growing efforts by management scholars to engage with grand challenges and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Reflective of the All- Academy Theme description, we note that research and scholarship around addressing these important issues traditionally adopts an either/or approach, reflecting a false self-imposed dichotomy that prevents more expansive and synergistic thinking. To advance scholarship and insights about the management of grand challenges, we turn to paradox theory, an organizational lens gaining attention among organizational scholars that explores the nature of competing demands and unpacks approaches to move beyond either/or thinking into more both/and approaches. We structured this session to be an interactive panel discussion with scholars who have deep and rich knowledge of specific SDGs. They will both share their knowledge and engage in a robust and provocative discussion to address important questions about the role of both/and thinking to address grand challenges, and how management scholars can advance that work. We hope that bringing a paradox lens to these issues will deepen our scholarship, as well as help push forward on practices in academia that allow us to be more relevant and impactful in building a thriving and sustainable world.