Creativity and Innovation Management - Special People?

People often think that there is a creative type. This is a myth.

1. We can all solve problems.

2. We can all produce large sets of ideas, large numbers of novel ideas and large numbers of diverse ideas.

3. Idea generation is related to task competency.

4. Whilst there are assertions for creativity traits such as a tolerance for ambiguity and intolerance to conformity, such traits are hard to identify and are not stable or transferable across situations.

5. Motivation is more critical than traits ? this is like possessing high intelligence ? one must be motivated to improve and use it.

6. The exact number of ideas people come up with depends on a variety of factors such as i) the degree of frame breaking allowed, ii) the degree of experience with the problem, iii) motivation etc.

David Ogilvy, the renowned advertiser, said: "For sixteen years I have been trying to find some common denominator which seems to apply to all creative people. There aren't any. If I could find five or six characteristics I might be more successful at hiring them. I could make a list of curiosity, vocabulary, good visual imagery etc and then I could interview hundreds of people and hire the best. But I don't know of any common characteristic. We've got fifty copywriters and I suppose the good ones are judged at the end of the year, when we compare how many successful campaigns they have created. I don't know how I could be more specific than that."

An experiment in the British Journal of Psychology, probably gives the best practical example. Businessmen who had showed up as very dull on work association tests were asked to imagine themselves as happy go lucky hippie types, in which persona they were re-tested, and showed up as being far more imaginative.

These and other 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.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

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 is in the process of authoring "The Innovation Bible." He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com/

---

Intuition Power In Three Steps

Have you ever used your intuition to solve problems? Can... Read More

Innovation Management ? The Harsh Facts Of Life For All Innovators

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Innovation Management ? Capturing Ideas

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Discover the Secret to Success in Your Own Back Yard

Yesterday, I went above and beyond the call of duty... Read More

Innovation

Innovation, in a business context, is generally thought of as... Read More

Befriend Your Budget, This Yuletide and Always

It is that time of year again. Yuletide?Christmas in the... Read More

Create An Idea Journal

When I first heard Jim Rohn talk about the importance... Read More

Starving for Intimacy

Some are seeking love in a bottle. Others look for... Read More

Choosing a Winning Business Idea

You've probably heard it a hundred times by now -... Read More

The Subtle Secret Of Transformation

Great men and women succeed moment by moment, step by... Read More

I Just Want to be Free - I Just Want to be Me!

It was a sunny Saturday in April 2003 in Myrtle... Read More

Business Innovation ? Real Self versus the Trained Self

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Types of Innovation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

What to Do When You Are Chased by a Snake

I lived for several years on the Japanese island of... Read More

Owning Your Power

Owning your power, your power to be real, to be... Read More

Thousands of Failures, but Thousands of Patents

Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before he revolutionized the... Read More

Perfectionism - The Dangerous Trap!

Just when I have something figured out, along comes another... Read More

Business Ideas ? Need a New Idea? Try Changing Your Perspective

One definition of creativity states that creative people look at... Read More

Business Innovation ? Masks and Trance

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Can A Simple Idea Change Your Life?

Ideas happen all the time. And when I say an... Read More

Creativity Management ? When To Add Talent

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management - Special People?

People often think that there is a creative type. This... Read More

Innovation Management ? moving past the wall

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Innovation Management ? Famous Failures!

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Putting Your Ideas Into Action

Ideas are everywhere. Some are small and seemingly insignificant. Others... Read More