A polarity is a problem that can't be resolved. Some business problems, like whether to offer retirement benefits or not, have an end decision point. Other business problems are made up of interdependent poles that must be managed, so a final decision is never made. Examples include planning and taking action or decentralization and centralization.
Too much planning implies that action will be short changed and the business could be forced out of business due to financial losses
(but it would have lots of plans!). Too much action implies that planning will be short
changed and the action could lead to chaos and missed strategic goals. So the task is to monitor both planning and action to try to maintain an optimal balance. Businesses that practice polarity management are more successful than those that do not. Notice that a problem is an either-or decision and a polarity is both-and management of the situation. You are probably experiencing the polarity of professional life and home life. You certainly would not choose between them, so you try to find a way to fulfill both.
Find the Balance (below photo) Search multiple resources to understand polarity management. Be sure to examine an example of a
polarity map worksheet. You may want to explore the topics polarity management, polarity map and polarity map worksheet. For additional resources on APA Style visit the Kaplan Writing Center.
Polarity Management Assignment
Identify one polarity from the list seen below that you are managing in the simulation experience.
Write a 3-4 page APA compliant paper, applying polarity management to the Marketplace Business
Fundamentals simulation. Assume that this paper is to be presented to the top management staff of
your simulation organization.
• Cost and quality
• Individual and team
• Centralization and decentralization
• Stability and change
• Autocratic and participatory
• Task and process
• Planning and taking action
• Long term and short term
Please review the links in Extra Extra in the course for some additional help in locating information on
polarity management.
Please use the following headings for your paper:
1. Polarities and polarity management - Explanation of polarity management using at least
three academically credible sources.
2. The Polarity Map
a. Create a map of the polarity you have chosen from the simulation. Be sure your poles
represent a true polarity and that your cells contain at least two to three items each.
b. Explain the polarity dynamic of your map.
Hint: To draw the map, you may use the Table, Test Box, and/or Draw functions in the Microsoft Office programs.
3. Applying Polarity Management to your top management team
a. Discuss how you would present the issue of polarity management and how to manage
your selected polarity to top management using research support.
b. Discuss the advantages and benefits of using Polarity Management to help the
management team handle its challenges using APA citations to support your comments.