The Paradox Of Demand: Complacency Vs Innovation : A case study in Swedish Student Housing

Sammanfattning

The theory of paradox argues that competing demands in an organization cannot be solved but only navigated on ongoing basis. However, organization navigates paradox under persistence high demand, where pressure to act is structurally suppressed, remains unexplored. This study explores the paradox of demand between the complacency and innovation, by applying the synthesized frameworks of Smith and Lewis (2011) and Lewis and Smith (2022) through a qualitative multiple case study of five Swedish student housing providers, using nine semi-structured interviews. The findings show that paradoxical tensions do not surface continuously but follow a predictable seasonal demand cycle, becoming visible each spring as vacancies appear and recedes in autumn as demand recovers. The housing providers respond to this either reactively or proactively through routines embedded in organizational culture and leadership. Where the acceptance to paradox is proactive, navigation is sustained and where the acceptance is reactive, the navigation is temporary or limited. The study refines both frameworks by specifying how paradox salience, acceptance and structural constraints shape paradox navigation in high demand and institutionally regulated context.