Exploring the Paradox-Emotion Nexus in Organizational Life

In organizations, individuals often confront paradoxical tensions—contradictory yet interdependent demands that persist over time (Quinn & Cameron, 1988; Smith & Lewis, 2011). For instance, creative professionals stive to create both artistic and economic values (Eikhof & Haunschild, 2007), while team members wrestle with the exploration-exploitation tension (Smith, 2014). Senior managers, too, grapple with the dual challenge of profit maximization and social responsibility (Margolis & Walsh, 2003), cooperative competition (Raza-Ullah et al., 2014), and granting employees autonomy while retaining control (Sundaramurthy & Lewis, 2003). Although the extant literature on paradoxes acknowledges that intensified forms of these tensions can evoke anxiety, frustration, and even paralyzed feelings (e.g., Schad et al., 2016; Cunha et al., 2023), a comprehensive understanding of how these paradoxes are intertwined with emotions and the likely performance implications cross multiple levels (e.g., at individual, team, organizational, inter-organizational) remains limited.

Likewise, research in psychology and emotions recognizes that individuals often experience complex emotional dynamics including emotional ambivalence (Pratt & Doucet, 2000), emotional dissonance (Diestel & Schmidt, 2011), and emotional labour (Grandey, 2000), particularly when engaged in the pursuit of paradoxical logics, demands, or goals (see Ashforth et al., 2014 and Rothman et al., 2017 for more details). Yet, a systematic investigation of why, how, when, and at what levels paradoxes generate such emotional complexity, and how the paradox-emotion interplay shapes outcomes at individual, team, and organizational levels, is lacking.

Hence, this research project invites proposals for an interdisciplinary approach that bridges the gap between paradoxes and emotions. By integrating insights from both domains and utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods, this project aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms behind paradox-induced emotions, their manifestations, implications, and management across various organizational levels.

Nottingham Business School is triple crown accredited with EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA – the highest international benchmarks for business education. It has also been ranked by the Financial Times for its Executive Education programmes in 2023 and 2024. NBS is one of only 47 global business schools recognised as a PRME Champion, and held up as an exemplar by the United Nations of Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME). 

Its purpose is to provide research and education that combines academic excellence with positive impact on people, business and society. As a world leader in experiential learning and personalisation, joining NBS as a researcher is an opportunity to achieve your potential.

Applications for October 2024 intake closes on 1st August 2024 and applications for Jan 2025 intake closes on 1st October 2024.