What is a dilemma? And what does it mean to reconcile it?  Its not either/or/and ...

The word “Dilemma” in Greek is defined as “two propositions in conflict”. We talk about a dilemma when we seem to come across a difficult choice which has to be made between two opposing options, both having interesting advantages. Our extensive research conducted globally has found that it is possible to deal with seemingly opposing options successfully. The key is reconciliation, the art of combining opposites.

The dilemma reconciliation process

What is it?

We have developed a framework, the Dilemma Reconciliation Process, that applies to all cultures, as managers have to deal increasingly with multi-cultural situations and a multi-cultural workforce. It reconciles the differences rather than simply identifying them, going beyond the “and… and” and embracing the “through… through” mindset. We have accumulated a significant body of evidence showing that reconciling values makes business more effective.

How does it work?

1

Identify the dilemma

Gather information from multiple sources to get a deeper understanding, by recognizing the dilemmas.

2

Chart the dilemma

Make the dilemma specific (what is it about and who is the holder?) and crack the line to invite people to combine the opposite.

3

Stretch the dilemma

Stretch the dilemma by making it bigger and bolder.

4

Make epithets

Emphasize the negatives of the extremes to invite people not to be there.

5

Reconcile the dilemma

How can value X help you get more of value Y?

6

Action planning

Define action points to make it real.

THE 10 GOLDEN DILEMMAS


Very often organizations are struggling with several dilemmas, but don’t know which ones are the most important. And here is where the 10 Golden Dilemmas Model comes to place. It is supported based on 30 years of research out of our database of 45.000 dilemmas created between the top 5 stakeholders of an organizations. 

Management 

a manager wants efficiency and effectiveness

Employees

an employee wants to be motivated

Clients 

we have clients that want to buy cheap products

Shareholders

 we have shareholders that want a cut for their capital

Society

 we have society that have rules for health and safety

When you connect those 5 stakeholders you get 10 connections points, that generate the main dilemmas recurring in any organization

Choose two fields by clicking on them...

Management

Global or standardized products

Clients

Local tastes, particular markets ​

Management

Leverage intellectual capital

Society

Innovative projects​

Management

Operational Agility

Shareholders

Strategic clarity​

Management

We need to become
more results oriented

Employees

We need to develop
our people

Society

Reputation in wider community

Clients

Serve our customers wants​

Clients

Satisfy our customers at all costs

Shareholders

Shareholder value​

Employees

Anticipate customers needs​

Clients

Customer is always "right"

Shareholders

Keep short-term cash flow

Society

 Invest in long-term sustainability ​

Employees

Positive discrimination

Society

Equal opportunities​

Employees

Reward our people
for their mastery

Shareholders

Reward our shareholders
for their faith in us