Using Duality to See More Broadly: Why Ambivalence and Paradox Can Benefit Organizations

Abstract

Modern organizations are complex social structures. Organizations regularly pursue multiple strategic goals in different and often competing markets, implicating a diverse constellation of stakeholders within and outside of an organization’s boundaries. Consequently, individuals at all levels of the organization must frequently attend to multiple and often contradictory tasks, goals, and interaction partners. The complexities of work make it common for individuals to feel conflicted about their tasks, situations, or colleagues. Such tensions manifest in ambivalence (i.e., simultaneously positive and negative feelings or attitudes) and paradox (i.e., having conflicting or contradictory perceptions) – two conceptually distinct but inevitably interrelated responses to complexity at work. As such, handling complexity and tensions in ways that enable effective decisions and actions is essential to individuals’ work performance in modern organizations. The research in this symposium collectively addresses: What are the individual and interpersonal consequences of ambivalence and paradox at work? Why Ventures Pitched by Ambivalent (Not Positive) Entrepreneurs Receive More Support Presenter: Melanie Milovac; INSEAD Presenter: Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks; U. of Michigan Benefits of Being Mixed: Ambivalent Actors are Perceived as Competent in Deliberation Contexts Presenter: Iris Schneider; U. of Cologne Presenter: Angela Ka-yee Leung; Singapore Management U. Excited or Comfortable? Unlocking the Emotional Foundation of a Paradox Mindset Presenter: Erica Wen Chen; Renmin U. of China Presenter: Josh Keller; U. of New South Wales Presenter: George Christopoulos; Nanyang Business School Relationship Conflict and Observers’ Work Engagement: A Paradox Perspective Presenter: Yan Shao; U. of Groningen Presenter: Ella Miron-Spektor; INSEAD Presenter: Susanne Täuber; U. of Groningen Presenter: Bernard A. Nijstad; U. of Groningen Cumulative Evidence about Attitudinal and Emotional Ambivalence at Work Presenter: Naomi Beth Rothman; Lehigh U. Presenter: David A. Harrison; U. of Texas at Austin Presenter: Caroline A Bartel; U. of Texas at Austin