The Ambidextrous HR System: A Consilience-Driven Framework for Paradoxical Organizations

This conceptual paper critically examines a fundamental limitation in the Strategic Human Resource Management(SHRM) literature: the prevailing models of HR systems are designed for specific, isolated objectives and are consequentlyill-equipped for the paradoxical and multifaceted nature of contemporary organizations. We argue that in complex anddynamic environments, systems focused solely on control, commitment, or performance are inherently insufficient toaddress the multitude of simultaneous strategic challenges organizations face. Drawing on theory from organizationalstudies (Morgan's metaphors), complexity science, and strategic management (ambidexterity), we propose a novelframework: The Consilience-Driven Hybrid Ambidextrous HR System. This model is conceived to overcome the limitations ofexisting systems by unifying disparate HR policies and practices through the principle of consilience, enabling organizationsto simultaneously pursue exploitation (efficiency, incremental innovation) and exploration (adaptability, radical innovation).The paper delineates the architecture of this system and discusses its theoretical underpinnings. We conclude by outliningsignificant implications for HR theory and practice, providing a clear agenda for future empirical research to operationalizeand validate this proposed framework.