TY - JOUR
T1 - In praise of paradox persistence
T2 - Evidence from the Sydney Opera House project
AU - Gaim, Medhanie
AU - Clegg, Stewart
AU - Cunha, Miguel Pina e
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Project Management Institute, Inc.
PY - 2022/8/1
Y1 - 2022/8/1
N2 - Organizational paradoxes persist. In their persistence, they resist closure; we demonstrate how, by using an exemplary project, that of the construction of the Sydney Opera House. By analyzing paradoxes encountered in the construction of a notable contemporary architectural project, we discuss how dialogical interactions enable options to emerge in the form of responses that were not previously evident. Engaging paradoxes dialogically requires accepting rather than denying contradictions, meaning that rather than resolving them in favor of one pole or the other, the contradictions remain in play. Monologic interactions—favoring dominant and singular voices, rather than producing consensus—repress dissent, leading to conflict, through suppressing paradox.
AB - Organizational paradoxes persist. In their persistence, they resist closure; we demonstrate how, by using an exemplary project, that of the construction of the Sydney Opera House. By analyzing paradoxes encountered in the construction of a notable contemporary architectural project, we discuss how dialogical interactions enable options to emerge in the form of responses that were not previously evident. Engaging paradoxes dialogically requires accepting rather than denying contradictions, meaning that rather than resolving them in favor of one pole or the other, the contradictions remain in play. Monologic interactions—favoring dominant and singular voices, rather than producing consensus—repress dissent, leading to conflict, through suppressing paradox.
KW - architectural project
KW - dialogue
KW - paradox
KW - paradox persistence in projects
KW - Sydney Opera House
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130063061&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/87569728221094834
DO - 10.1177/87569728221094834
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85130063061
SN - 8756-9728
VL - 53
SP - 397
EP - 415
JO - Project Management Journal
JF - Project Management Journal
IS - 4
ER -