In Praise of Paradox Persistence: Evidence from the Sydney Opera House Project

Organizational paradoxes persist and resist resolution, as demonstrated by the construction of the Sydney Opera House. The study reveals that dialogical interactions—embracing contradictions rather than suppressing them—enable innovative responses to emerge that were not previously evident. Unlike monologic approaches, which favor dominant voices and lead to conflict, dialogic engagement maintains paradoxes in play, fostering creativity and consensus without favoring one perspective over another.

Gaim, M., Clegg, S., & Cunha, M. P. e. (2022). In Praise of Paradox Persistence: Evidence from the Sydney Opera House Project. Project Management Journal, 53(4), 397–415. https://doi.org/10.1177/87569728221094834