A or B or Both

In western decision making, we are trained to come out with a list of options, say A, B, C .... and then to pick the best one based on some criteria.

In Eastern thinking, in the case of two extreme options, say, A & B, we have the co-existence of both A & B as the concept of Yin-Yang. The answer is not A or B, but the balance of A & B. We want to the have the optimum balance of A & B and depending on the situations, we may want to have more of A, less of B and in other situations, more of B and less of A. We have the ability to keep the 2 options alive and be able to wisely apply them to the issues that arises.

Having A & B together does not mean a compromise position. To me, compromise is always a bad outcome. Consider the dispute and settlement of 2 parties to a compromise. Each one felt he has given away 50% and are not truly happy.

Having an apparent conflict of factors A or B is a contradiction in TRIZ thinking method and there are ways to break the contradiction so as to have the best of both factors A & B. That is the breakthrough thinking that we need.

For more details see Yin-Yang Thinking Framework - Innovative and Critical. 

Read about BVITS and TRIZ to see how to have the best of both worlds.