This paper departs from the consideration of paradox as an organizational phenomenon, supporting the thesis that traditional management (thesis) should meet modern management (antithesis), in order to build a synthesis and not to achieve a solution of compromise. The application of a dialectical perspective to quality management leads to five principles: (1) less inspection to promote product quality, (2) control to promote autonomy, (3) authoritative leadership to promote participation, (4) distrust to promote trust, (5) routinization/planning to promote creativity. These principles are discussed, leading to the conclusion that the dialectical synthesis resulting from the confrontation between the traditional and the critical versions of quality management, promotes a stimulating view of quality.
quality; dialectics; paradoxes
