Abstract
Paradox and dual-process theories are used by management and organization researchers in studying a variety of phenomena across a wide range of management sub-fields. Cognition is a focal point of both of these theories. However, despite their growing importance and shared areas of inquiry, these two theories have developed largely in isolation from each other. To address this lack of integration, we conducted a review and synthesis of relevant aspects of the paradox and dual-process literatures. Focusing bi-directionally on how paradox theory informs dual-process theory and how dual-process theory informs paradox theory we highlight the ‘nestedness’ of intuition and analysis in paradox (a paradox within paradoxical thinking). On the basis of our review and synthesis we identify four themes (epistemological and ontological assumptions in the relationship between intuition and analysis; psychological and psychometric issues in the relationships between intuition and analysis; managers’ experiences of tensions between intuition and analysis; managers’ approaches to tensions between intuition and analysis) and introduce an integrative framework that assimilates these two perspectives and sets out an agenda for future research and implications for management.