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Zen and the creative management of dilemmas

2012; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 9; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/14766086.2012.744543

1942-258X

Albert Low, Ronald E. Purser,

Management and Organizational Studies

The management of dilemmas can be enhanced by learning from Zen Buddhism, particularly the meditative practice of working on koans. Zen koans are the recorded sayings, teachings, and encounter dialogs between Buddhist masters and students. The paper begins by first examining the nature of dilemmas and how various modes of thinking differ in their effectiveness in achieving a creative reconciliation. Next, Zen koan practice is explored as a means of providing insights into the human capacities required to perceive and resolve organizational dilemmas. The state of the mind required to resolve Zen koans is only different in degree from the mental capacities managers need to develop for reconciling organizational dilemmas. Next, the capacities of mind required to reconcile dilemmas is examined, which involves a new logic of ambiguity that is the basis of creative insight. Finally, the Zen koan pedagogy and Zen training are discussed in terms of its implications for research and management education.