Paradoxical Theorizing: A multimodal approach to generate new theory

Over three decades ago, Marshall Scott Poole and Andrew Van de Ven proposed using paradoxes to develop more rigorous and robust organizational theories. We reignite their efforts while offering two important advances. First, we introduce to their initial ideas the expanding paradox literature to suggest how scholars can generate creative theories by surfacing and engaging tensions. We label this process paradoxical theorizing , which we define as a set of practices leveraging interdependent contradictions to generate new theory. Second, recognizing that extant theorizing emphasizes cognitive analysis and formal reasoning, we seek to expand this approach by unpacking four modalities of paradoxical theorizing and identifying the embedded tensions within each modality. We contribute to organizational theory by explicating a process and modalities that draw on tensions to generate more creative theories.