Research Seminar – Professor Wendy Smith

NOVA School of Business and Economics,  Room B133 (1st floor)​

Nova SBE Research Unit and ERA Chair in Social Innovation invited professor Wendy Smith, from University of Delaware, for a Research Seminar. ​

This Research Seminar was organized by Management & Organizations with ERA Chair in Social Innovation​.

Prof. Wendy Smith presented “Navigating Paradox is Paradoxical”.

Abstract​

Over the past decade, paradox theory has developed impressively. Such advances have been fueled by a rising collective experience of paradox—as change, scarcity and plurality intensify awareness of conflicting, interdependent and persistent forces—and by a global community of paradox scholars—notably creative, dedicated and mutually supportive. We reflect on factors contributing to this scholarly expansion, offering insights into how advances of paradox theory could generalize to the rise of fields more broadly. We then explore the accumulation of paradox scholarship, noting the convergence of key ideas and definitions, while recognizing the divergence of ontologies, methodologies, theories, and phenomena. Building upon expanding insights into how to navigate paradox, we categorize varied approaches into four sets of tools—assumptions (cognition), boundaries (structures), comfort (emotions), and dynamics (change) —presented within an integrative framework that we label the Paradox System. By doing so, we highlight the breadth of underlying research, depict interwoven and paradoxical relationships across categories, and surface a core insight that navigating paradox is paradoxical. Finally, we offer suggestions and provocations for future research.