Creativity and Innovation Management - Teach, Coach, Learn
Coaching, training or learning about creativity and innovation involves mastery of at least 12 domains. These include: a) Creativity and Innovation differences and definitions. Often used interchangeably, they ought to be considered separate and distinct. Creativity can be described as problem identification and idea generation and innovation idea selection, development and commercialisation. Creativity can also be measured according to the number of ideas produced and their diversity and novelty. b) Creative Types. Are some people creative and others not? Why is it that some people just seem to be more so? Some theorists argue for creativity traits such as tolerance for ambiguity and intolerance of conformity whilst others counter that traits are hard to identify and not stable or transferable across situations. Further, motivation is more important. c) Learning versus talent. Is creativity a talent or can it be learned and developed? How conclusive are nature and nurture arguments and does it improve with experience? What do people who regularly have to produce good ideas have to say? d) Motivation. Motivation is arguably more important than traits. How can it be gauged, measured and monitored? e) Organizational culture. Some cultures inhibit creativity whilst others foster it? We can all be more creative so what is stopping us? f) Organizational structure. What properties of an organisational structure most foster creativity? There are many reasons why an entity has a particular organisational structure: history, logistics, market segmentation, product line, strategy and so forth. It is often unreasonable to ask a firm to change its organisational structure, so how do we get around this problem? g) Team structure. Some individuals who have worked alone have made great contributions to society. Yet many argue that smaller teams overcome the limitations of the individual. Still others argue that groups introduce negative such as groupthink and politicking, which gets worse with size. So, what is the most effective group structure for maximizing the frequency and quality of creative output? h) Knowledge Management. Coaches and leaders have to understand how to maximize and effectively use networks, collaboration and elicitation of tacit knowledge techniques if they are to benefit from the intellectual cross pollination that is the raw material of the idea generation process. i) Radial versus Incremental leaps. Everybody seems to want to make radical leaps, which has led to a distortion of the value of incremental movement. It is an understanding of incremental movement that is the most sure fire way to radical movement. Large movements most often result from small changes. j) Structure and Goals. Are structure and goals inhibitive or do they increase creative output? Research from people who continually output material (screenwriters, comedians, musicians) argue that structure is vital. k) Process. Is there a process that makes insight (also known as aha or eureka) more likely? It seems that there are triggers and processes that can be used to get the mind working on problems at various cognitive levels. l) Valuation. The first stage of innovation is idea selection. How do we make the go or kill decision between ideas? These topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com. You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site. You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained. Kal Bishop MBA, is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Innovation
Innovation, in a business context, is generally thought of as the product or application of creativity. Peter F. Drucker suggests that innovation "is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship."
How To Be An Innovator In A World Of Change
Innovators are opportunity-oriented.
Innovation and Competitive Advantage
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
The Hidden Superpowers Of Your Mind
The mind is an infinite wonder. It has the fantastic ability to transmute your desires into their physical counterparts. You can do anything that your mind can conceive, as long as you have the belief and will power to back it up.
Business Innovation ? Masks and Trance
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Why Do We Suppress Higher Thought?
Throughout History we have imprisoned our brightest stars and thinkers. In modern periods we force them into works of fiction and disallow those Thoughts, which make us question our perceived or created realities by those who rule over us. We attack the innovators, entrepreneurs, personalities and thinkers in our civilizations in every country in the world. Occassionally we allow a few to come forth with ideas in works of fiction; because we as a people would shun their thoughts if they were not brought out in any other way. Let's use Ayn Rand, Bertrand Russell, Arthur C Clark, John Gresham, Ben Bova, Isaac Asimov, Tom Clancy as examples for this point. When brought forth as a fictional work it makes you think and brings out a point of contention. If brought forth as an idea, it would quickly be squashed as not Politically Correct or used to discredit the person for original thought.
Knowledge Gains in Innovation
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Peace Alliance vs. Fighting a Battle
We read in the press about the "War on Drugs" and the "Battle of the Bulge". Television tells us to fight the flu, legal battles or the war in Haiti. Our doctors tell us we are fighting cancer or in a battle with obesity.
I Just Want to be Free - I Just Want to be Me!
It was a sunny Saturday in April 2003 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Carolina-blue sky seemed to kiss the wavy waters as the gentle wind embraced the beach. After enjoying the beach for a while with my 16-year old daughter and husband, one by one, they ventured off to find a spot on the beach away from the water.
Solve Problems With A Word List
To creatively solve problems you need to get your mind looking in new directions. You can systematically do this by using a list of words, primarily adjectives, to create "what if?" scenarios. You start with the question, "what if it was..." and then insert a word from the list. The "it" in the question is the problem you're trying to solve, or the solution or situation that exists now.
Intuition: Your Best Career Coach
Since I derive most of my life lessons from reading murder mysteries, I am reminded of a mystery by Marcia Muller, Listen to the silence. The heroine, Sharon McCone, turns her prodigious investigative talent to researching her own background. As she interviews family members, her significant other, also a heavy-duty detective, says, "Listen to the silence."
Business Innovation ? Real Self versus the Trained Self
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Innovation Management ? The Harsh Facts Of Life For All Innovators
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Can A Simple Idea Change Your Life?
Ideas happen all the time. And when I say an idea, I don't just mean a mere thought. An idea is more than a mental opinion and it is loftier than a sentiment. An idea is a special thought. It is a thought that gives you a rush, a sparkle, a feeling of exhilaration.
Imagination
Imagination is the unreal, real state of mind, where all things are experienced as real. Imagination is powerful and is an intermediary step between thought and word. Thoughts are experienced in the imagination before they are manifested into physical reality.
Putting Your Ideas Into Action
Ideas are everywhere. Some are small and seemingly insignificant. Others are big giant ideas with the chance to change large portions of our lives. Each idea that we encounter, whether we create the idea, synthesize it from somewhere else, or hear it, is a possible opportunity.
Business Innovation ? the Value of Being Obvious
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Three Step Problem Solving
How do you like to solve your problems? Do you prefer to use the more creative problem solving techniques, or the systematic ones? You'll get the best of both with the add-subtract-change method.
Innovation Management: Trying Out New Ideas
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Business Innovation ? Eliciting Talent
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
|
