Paradox in Positive Organizational Change

Abstract

Positive organizational change is a paradox. On the one hand, natural human inclinations toward the positive and heliotropic tendencies foster a proclivity toward positive change in human systems. On the other hand, human beings react more strongly to negative than to positive stimuli, so the presence of negative events overshadows positive events. Paradoxically, both tendencies—toward the positive and in response to the negative—are important enablers of positive change, but because the negative usually dominates, positive factors have to be given extra emphasis in order for positive change to occur. The concept of “positive” has created a great deal of controversy and confusion in organizational studies, spawning critics as well as promoters. The major connotations of this concept in organizational scholarship are clarified and a way to reconcile the paradox of positive change is proposed. New investigations of positive organizational change are introduced which address various aspects of the positive change paradox.