TY - JOUR
T1 - A figure is worth a thousand words
T2 - The role of visualization in paradox theorizing
AU - Pradies, Camille
AU - Berti, Marco
AU - Cunha, Miguel Pina e
AU - Rego, Arménio
AU - Tunarosa, Andrea
AU - Clegg, Stewart
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was funded by National Funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (UID/ECO/00124/2019, UIDB/04105/2020, UIDB/00731/2020, UIDB/00315/2020 and Social Sciences DataLab, LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-022209), POR Lisboa (LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-007722, LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-022209) e POR Norte (LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-022209).
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - Visualization (i.e., the use of figures and images to represent findings and conceptual models) is central to theorizing. Yet, by focusing solely on the textual content of papers, analysis has inadvertently marginalized the graphic representations of key ideas. We review the paradox literature not just in terms of what authors have written but also how they have visualized models concisely. An analysis of figures in paradox articles captures the essential role that visuals play in our understanding of competing tensions, leveraging the power of imagery. We explore paradox visually, searching for the figurative materialization of paradox; more particularly, we seek visual signs that render abstract ideas more saliently and concretely. We contribute to paradox theory in three ways. First, we show how visuals constitute the lynchpin between convergent and divergent forces, allowing scholars to simultaneously reinforce and challenge current understanding. Second, we offer a tool for scholars to theorize competing demands based on three key antinomies, or dualities, that define the terrain of research in our field. Third, we reveal the performative effect of figures by identifying the ongoing dominance of certain classes of paradox visuals, which allows us to point to uncharted territories for paradox research.
AB - Visualization (i.e., the use of figures and images to represent findings and conceptual models) is central to theorizing. Yet, by focusing solely on the textual content of papers, analysis has inadvertently marginalized the graphic representations of key ideas. We review the paradox literature not just in terms of what authors have written but also how they have visualized models concisely. An analysis of figures in paradox articles captures the essential role that visuals play in our understanding of competing tensions, leveraging the power of imagery. We explore paradox visually, searching for the figurative materialization of paradox; more particularly, we seek visual signs that render abstract ideas more saliently and concretely. We contribute to paradox theory in three ways. First, we show how visuals constitute the lynchpin between convergent and divergent forces, allowing scholars to simultaneously reinforce and challenge current understanding. Second, we offer a tool for scholars to theorize competing demands based on three key antinomies, or dualities, that define the terrain of research in our field. Third, we reveal the performative effect of figures by identifying the ongoing dominance of certain classes of paradox visuals, which allows us to point to uncharted territories for paradox research.
KW - paradox theory
KW - semiotics
KW - theorizing
KW - visual analysis
KW - visual representation of paradox
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85158856548&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/01708406231161998
DO - 10.1177/01708406231161998
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85158856548
SN - 0170-8406
VL - 44
SP - 1231
EP - 1257
JO - Organization Studies
JF - Organization Studies
IS - 8
ER -