Managing tensions in assessment: moving beyond either-or thinking.

Assessment polarities and tensions are likely to surface with the continued rise of complexity and change in education and health care organisations. With increasing pressures of accountability in times of stretched resources, assessment tensions and dilemmas will become more pronounced. We propose to add to our repertoire of strategies for managing key dilemmas in education and assessment design through the adoption of the polarity framework. Its 'both-and' approach may advance our efforts to transform assessment systems to meet complex 21st century education, health and health care needs.