Discovering an organisational paradox: the reduction–expansion perceptions in a police training organisation

ABSTRACT

In a dynamic and competitive environment, how do complex organisations maintain continuity and function without falling apart? This question will be examined in the context of the Israeli Police training organisation, which consists of several sub-organisations. Although they share similar goals, each has different objectives, trains police of different duties, and operates in a different geographical location. The common organisational characteristics promote shared perception and behaviour patterns for employees, which in turn, stabilise the organisation facing a complex environment. To reveal common perceptions of the training personnel, the research methodology chosen was qualitative, specifically, grounded theory methodology. The shared pattern reflects a paradoxical perception which simultaneously incorporates two poles – reductive and expansive – in each of four organisational core components diagnosed in the research: the training-organisation mission, training processes, organisational work-related processes, and the training personnel characteristics. The reduction-expansion paradox suggests an organisational perception pattern, embedded across the organisational core components, which offers a dynamic explanation for the continuity of the organisation in its complex environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Organization
• organizational studies
• police
• training
• human resource development
• paradox
• workplace learning
• coaching

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sigalit Shahar

Chief Superintendent Sigalit Shahar, Ph.D is an active police officer and the head of Organizational Development Unit, Israel Border Police. Sigalit also serve as adjunct lecturer at the College of Management. Her research interests covers leadership and paradoxes in organizations, military-police organizations and women combatants. Sigalit is currently leading a research program on leadership characteristics during emergency events.

Orit Hazzan

Professor Orit Hazzan is a faculty member at the Technion’s Department of Education in Science and Technology since October 2000. Her research focuses on computer science, software engineering and data science education. She has published about 120 papers in professional refereed journals and conference proceedings, and seven books. In 2006–2008 she served as the Technion's Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies. In 2007-2010 she chaired the High School Computer Science Curriculum Committee assigned by the Israeli Ministry of Education. In 2011-2015 Hazzan was the faculty Dean. From 2017 to 2019, Hazzan served the Technion Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Additional details can be found in her personal homepage. https://orithazzan.net.technion.ac.il/