10 Managing unsolvable problems

This chapter covers

  • Managing polarities, instead of trying to solve them
  • Using polarity mapping to manage a polarity
  • Managing a polarity for the group

Have you ever faced a problem that felt extremely hard to solve because there seemed to be no clear solution, but rather something that needed to be balanced over time? If so, you were probably facing a polarity instead of a problem. Sometimes problems have one solution: we’re either going left or right. We’re either going to hire person A or person B for this job. But some problems seem less straightforward: Are we focusing on the short or long term? Are we working on this project individually or collectively as a team? It might be tempting to go with either one of the alternatives because who doesn’t like simple clarity? But the latter examples are actually not problems that have an either/or solution. They are polarities that need to be managed in a both/and manner.

This chapter will define polarities and how you can spot them in the wild (more specifically, during collaborative modeling sessions). We’ll also explain and teach you how to address polarities with a group by visualizing them in a map. Based on common polarities during collaborative modeling, we’ll explain how to manage them using BigScreen examples.

10.1 Polarities: Some problems can’t be solved

10.1.1 What are polarities?

10.1.2 Recognizing polarities

10.1.3 Common polarities in collaborative modeling

10.1.4 Crusaders and tradition bearers

10.2 Visualizing a polarity

10.2.1 Creating a shared understanding of a polarity

10.2.2 Managing the polarity

10.3 Managing polarities during collaborative modeling

10.3.1 Getting stuck in a polarity

10.3.2 Managing a polarity as facilitator

10.6 Further reading