Supervisors: Jacob Arnoldi & Bart Verwaeren
Discussants: Claus Holm & Birte Asmuß

Abstract
Paradox mindsets are thought to constitute an important capability for sustainable performance in today’s complex business environment. While attracting growing interest in paradox literature, knowledge of how individuals come to adopt paradox mindsets remains scarce. In this conceptual paper, we address this gap by examining how a constructive developmental perspective can inform the concept of paradox mindset as well as elucidate possible processes for its adoption and development. We propose that the adoption of a paradox mindset depends on the interplay between individual meaning-making logics, the nature (performing, belonging, organizing, learning) of the tension, and the context in which the enactment occurs (supportive/non-supportive environment). We further argue that experiencing disequilibrating paradoxes can facilitate the development of a more lasting paradox mindset around these specific tensions, particularly when such encounters occur in supportive environments. Our paper advances microfoundational paradox theory by proposing that there exist qualitatively different ways of engaging with various types of paradox.

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