For ages, the management theorists have concentrated their attention on three types of pondering i. e. Magical thinking, modern thinking and postmodern thinking. The most recent inclusion is the paradoxical thinking that was being examined by the researchers of the knowledge field. The main reason that paradoxical thinking has gained importance in the business world is the fact there were some excitement phrases which were being utilized by the employees of the organisations such as handled chaos, getting outside the pack, breaking the shape of guide, creative damage, fuzzy logic and etc. (Lovy, 2011).
All of these terminologies show a business can develop something impossible by going beyond the imaginative construction and these old models have less importance in the contemporary world. The principal crux of the paradoxical thinking is usually that the openness can be not it is indecisive, lacks principled convictions and is sometimes passionless as well (Gebert, Boerner & Kearney, 2010). Relating to Sak and Oz (2010), paradoxical thinking implies that problems should be appeared from different angles rather than one perspective such that it can be solved effectively.
The term 'paradox' is described as a variety or group of statements that are contradictory and concern the traditional thinking parameters. Also, the paradoxical thinking is explained as the way of considering a predicament or a difficulty form a various selection of perspectives and undertaking in-depth analysis to understand the challenge completely (Miron-Spektor, Gino & Argote, 2011). One of the better examples of the use of paradoxical thinking is apparent in the task performed by Farday in about 1830s.
Farday observed that when the electricity current is handed down through a wire it can result in a magnetised needle to go that is situated adjacent to the wire to move in a route which is rotational; it made the basis of electric motor unit invention. To be able to prolong his learning and thinking capacities, he increased his efforts and found that even the moving magnets can reduce the circulation of electricity in the machine. He challenged the ways in which the traditional theorists of physics were working so that he will make valuable contribution in the field (Kasi et al. , 2008).
It has been discovered that the companies that encourage paradoxical thinking within their culture are able to make successful development and their success is visible from the robust performance on the market. The paradoxical thinking is situated in large quantity in leading companies especially technology related companies such as Microsoft, IBM, Apple, Dell, Google, Sony, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola and so many more.
Examples of how Google demonstrates Paradoxical Thinking
Google is certainly the market head around the world as it has created a new online world online surfers. The company has been growing at an instant pace in the Internet-related products and services market as it has efficiently responded to all the requirements of the customers as soon as they can be required by them. Since increasing top position on the market as a dominant internet search engine in 1988, they have ensured that it fosters a paradoxical thinking environment within its business procedures (Stoltzfus, Stohl, & Seibold, 2011).
The basic base of the paradoxical thinking is usually that the employees need to be provided an available and ground breaking culture that allows them to think a huge selection of imaginative and powerful ideas which may have never been offered in the market. Yahoo was the first company to recognize the need of creating an online search engine from where the people seeking information about different things can get valuable information easily. When Google was considering adding this offering, it experienced to face resistance from the traditional companies who found the theory to be unrealistic and inadequate.
The owners of Google were not disappointed by such discouraging feedback and launched this center for the Internet users. Since that time, the business has been flourishing efficiently in the market and has experienced all the difficulties with determination and bravery. To be able to present the customers with original offerings, Google has created a work environment that is friendly, fun-loving, enthusiastic and soothing so that the people working there like to come to their job every day (Baldwin et al. , 2010).
As due to such captivating working environment, the employees have effectively employed the idea of paradoxical thinking in the company's product and service offerings that happen to be even evident in the form of its advertisements. The employees show creativeness by showing their ideas with the management and those that are engaging are applied after some modifications. Google has a Loose-Tight framework where in fact the employees are given autonomy to work but have to comply with the Google's unified idea (Korn & Silverman, 2012).
Following are a few of the initiatives that are performed by Google illustrate the use of paradoxical thinking in its business businesses:
In 2005, the Summer of Code mentoring program premiered for students of ages eighteen and older to have them engaged in the free and open-source software. It even made valuable contribution in the wild source community.
Google MentalPlex on Apr Fools' Times feature the utilization of mental ability for searching the net.
In 2007, it announced the introduction of TiSP (Toilet ONLINE SITES Service provider) where one could easily have the interconnection by flushing a finish of the fiber-optic cable tv down in the toilet.
It even began advertising in 2007 about the Gmail newspaper that may be used by Gmail users to print and ship the email messages.
It evolved its company name in 2010 2010 to Topeka to display its honour of Topeka Kansas where its Mayor modified the name of the location to Yahoo for limited time frame such that it can sway Google's decision of new Google Fiber Project.
In its internet search engine, it added vocabulary selection top features of Swedish Chef such as Bork bork bork, Pig Latin, Klingon, Elmer Fudd and Hacker.
Google Map, Google Notebook and other features are examples of the paradoxical thinking implications. Hence, invention is properly inserted in the business's culture such that it can create something new and pioneering because of its customers and enhance their online browsing time.
Paradoxical Thinking - Whether it can be learnt or not
The proponents of paradoxical thinking state that the people have to think out of the box and do in-depth examination of any contradictory thought since it can provide rise to something new that is not present in the market (Lovy, 2011). There is absolutely no science involved with learning the paradoxical thinking as the learners have to change their thinking patterns. Sometimes, a solution or invention can happen not to make any sense but it could appeal to the prospective audience. For instance, when sports autos were introduced, individuals were sceptical about it that whether it'll be accepted on the market or not; now it is the leading choice in the sports world.
Similarly, when solar vehicles were launched by Saturn, it acquired to face huge amount of criticism but it was successful in reaching the requirements of its customers and providing them an energy efficient car that is effective for the environment (Luscher & Lewis, 2008). The key requirements of expanding paradoxical thinking are open mindedness, courage to take risks and experimenting with new ideas. It is important to remain alert about the absurd ideas that are present on a regular basis in minds; they need to be known down and then dwelt.
The employees of any organisation need to be encouraged to experience with even hazy ideas because there are chances that a unique proposition gets clicked in the mind that may be beneficial for the business's enhanced performance. Because of this form of thinking, openness is vital because it allows the individuals to learn new topics that might have no linkages to the occupation. It is vital to extend the training boundaries so that unleashed features can be attended to; therefore, increased exploration is the essential dependence on paradoxical thinking (Gobert, Boener & Kearney, 2010).
Wagner (2009) explained that the essential groundwork of the paradoxical thinking is being sceptical on a regular basis; meaning considering the things from differing perspectives. For example, when looking at a product, a person can think about making changes in it that can make it look more attractive or changing the style or things that can appeal to other market segments (Ging et al. , 2010). Hence, paradoxical thinking can be learnt easily by changing just how of looking and watching things in the environment so a new point of view is highlighted.
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(Source: Smith, Binns & Tushman, 2010)
Paradoxical Considering - Least used cleverness skill
Since every company emphasises the value of creating work environment that is conducive and comprises of competed people who have high intellect skills, such organisations encounter problems when applying the paradoxical thinking platform. The basics of the paradoxical thinking means taking into consideration the irrational aspects as well so that creativity is urged throughout the organisation. It's been found that the paradoxical thinking is one of the eight skills that are related to the intelligence framework (Banff Professional Management Inc. , 2010).
The eight skills that are from the intellect are judgement, perception, reason, intuition, creativeness, logic, memory and paradox. Among all the abilities mentioned, minimal commonly used is the paradoxical thinking because people are reluctant to get involved in illogical thinking. The traditional specialists still show amount of resistance to apply the idea of paradoxical thinking within the business enterprise environment because they believe that it isn't appropriate for a business to get involved in such irrational activities. However, the tendency is now moving to the paradox paradigm when the business's management have realised that the clients are looking for both efficient and creative solutions (Baldwin et al. , 2010).
The reason that paradoxical thinking is linked to intelligence is the fact it allows the visitors to apply their thinking skills to change the theory into something possible which will be appealing for the end-consumers. IBM has ensured which it allows its employees to give any sorts of practical recommendations to the company that can help it in increasing its proficiency and get rid of the drawbacks that are widespread within the firm (Miron-Spektor, Erez, & Naveh, 2011).
USA Today is the leading newspapers in the country and it was the first one to introduce the concept of online newspaper so the customers can browse the paper on Internet. When the dog owner wanted to unveiling this idea, majority of the people felt that it will have to face problems as people prefer to enhance their understanding of the latest happenings through newspaper magazines. However, the newspaper is considered to be the most notable selling newspaper in the region that has effectively achieved the needs of the customers especially who is looking for previous issues to access a specific article or piece of information (Wit & Meyer, 2005).
Ways where paradoxical thinking can improve organisation's performance
Since the basic requirements of paradoxical thinking are open up working culture and going out of the original ways to introduce ground breaking offerings, the organisations have to make these two elements the integral part of these working conditions. The leaders of these companies have showing their understanding for the work devote by the employees by means of imaginative and appealing ideas so that they should enhance their level of productivity (Wit & Meyer, 2005).
When employees should become a critical part of the organisation's decision making process, it improved their level of motivation and they're inclined to make more meaningful additions in the business functions (Miron-Spektor, Gino, & Argote, 2011). To be able to support the paradoxical thinking within the business, the very best management must understand that they need to create an environment that allows the employees to learn with creative elements, get involved in activities that will assist them in unleashing unexploited strategies of the business functions and ensure that the customers are provided with original offerings at an easy pace.
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(Source: Ging et al. , (2010))
Hence, by using creativity, openness, development and sceptical thinking, the paradoxical thinking will be promoted within the business organisation. All of these factors will ensure that the company's productivity is increased, competitive edge is attained on the market and performance is growing in a profitable way and at an accelerating rate.
Conclusion
In today's competitive environment which has been impacted by globalisation and accelerating rate of changes, the organisations have to remain alert all the time about the happenings so the challenges can be encountered proactively. The managers and leaders of the organisations have to foster an innovative local climate within the companies so that the paradoxical thinking can be nurtured which will ultimately make significant contribution in their enhanced performance.
