Part 4
The Polarity Map
In the final part of this eLearning-session, we will get to know the Polarity Map as a practical tool to make sense of paradoxical situations and to foster both/and thinking. The Polarity Map has been developed by Barry Johnson & Polarity Partnerships, LLC.
What is it about?
Polarity mapping is a technique that helps you explore deeply two sides of the same issue. By using the polarity map, you will be able to come with ideas that aim at maximising the upsides and minimising the downsides of each pole. Below you find an overview of the different steps of the Polarity Mapping procedure.
Watch the videos
To learn about the Polarity Map, watch the small video series by Polarity Partnerships.
Explore the Polarity Map
Below, you find now a summary of the Polarity Map. You can use the image slider to see two versions of the Polarity Map:
First, a general overview with the core questions. Second, a filled-out map with a true case example. The text box on the right side provides you with some context information about the example case.
You can also download a summary sheet of the Polarity Map and how it works by clicking on the button below.
Case Example: Ensuring Community Safety in Charleston
The tension between law enforcement and citizens over community safety is timely and challenging. Especially, when it comes to the US, the police killings of Black men and women such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020 have shed light on the issue of racial justice and policing Black communities. This has become a lighting rod of political polarization. In 2010, the Police Department of Charleston set out to develop a new strategic plan to address increased crime. To shed light on the underlying paradoxes, they used polarity mapping.
If you are interested, you can find the full strategic plan of the Charleston Police Department here.