Widerspruch und/oder Paradoxie?

This article in the magazine “Gruppe. Interaction. Organization. (GIO)” elaborates a method that managers can use to differentiate between contradictions and paradoxes in organizations and intervene accordingly in a targeted manner. It is nothing new that contradictions are perceived in organizations. However, it is striking that paradoxes are now being discovered everywhere where contradictions used to be recognized. In the current management discourse, managers are advised to focus on “both-and solutions” instead of an “either-or mindset”. This article argues that not every contradiction is a paradox and that “both/and” solutions are therefore not always the most appropriate response to contradictions. In order to derive practical recommendations, contradictions and paradoxes are distinguished. To this end, a test procedure will be developed for practical use, with which the distinction between contradictions and paradoxes can be made and suitable interventions can be selected.