Integrative thinking is “the ability to face constructively the tension of opposing ideas and, instead of choosing one at the expense of the other, generate a creative resolution of the tension in the form of a new idea that contains elements of the opposing ideas but is superior to each.”

— Roger Martin

This theory was developed by interviewing more than 50 successful leaders in different areas, where he determined most successful leaders showed this trait in their ways of thinking.

There is criticism that he and his colleagues may have been subject to a confirmation bias effect as the studies in question did not look at integrative thinkers who failed and non-integrative thinkers who succeeded in similar situations.