PARADOX PEERS: A RELATIONAL APPROACH TO NAVIGATING A BUSINESS-SOCIETY PARADOX

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Pamphile, Vontrese Deeds
• 署名单位: George Washington University
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0001-4273
• DOI: 10.5465/amj.2019.0616
• 发表日期: 2022
• 页码: 1274-1302
• 关键词: CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY; MANAGERIAL SENSEMAKING; organizational-change; TENSIONS; IDENTITY; management; work; Occupations; INNOVATION; culture

摘要

Despite advancements in our understanding of organizational paradox, we know little about how individuals navigate paradox when tensions are core to one's occupational role but not a dominant concern for senior leaders. This study explores how grantmakers working in corporate philanthropy navigate a business-society paradox when their leaders prioritize business over social objectives at the organization level. By analyzing interview data from grantmakers, alongside observations of their group meetings, I induce a peer-based model of navigating paradox. The findings reveal the important supportive role of relationships with paradox peers-ongoing, cooperative connections to individuals external to one's organization but facing similar paradoxical challenges. I detail three relational mechanisms for engaging paradox that together facilitate the ability of individuals to navigate paradox in their home organizations: connecting with others to relieve tension, collectively protecting the paradox, and collaboratively brainstorming responses. My findings shift paradox scholarship toward a more relational understanding of navigating paradoxes, exploring how engaging tensions outside of one's organizational boundaries can support the navigation of paradox internally.