BUSN 405 THE CREATIVITY PROCESS AND SKILLS Dr, Anca UMS, Fall 2015

Objectives Describe the creative process Explain the personality traits of creative people Explain how the four cognitive creativity skills are promoted by creativity techniques. List the five categories of characteristics that distinguish creative people from noncreative people Explain the organizational conditions that hinder and promote creativity

The Creative Person How are they different? Personality Traits Cognitive Creativity Skills Domain-specific Knowledge Intrinsic Motivation

Characteristics of Creative People

Personality Traits of Creative People Persistence Self-confidence Independence Attraction to complexity Tolerance of ambiguity Intuitiveness

…Personality Traits of Creative People Have broad interests Are energetic Drive to achieve Love their work Take risks

Cognitive Creativity Skills Think creatively Generate alternatives Engage in divergent thinking Suspend judgment

Domain-Specific Knowledge Develops Via Education Training Experience Contextual Knowledge

Creativity Enhancers Hire creative people Enriched, complex jobs Provide resources Clear organizational goals Instructions to be creative Recognize and reward creativity Encourage risk taking No punishment for failure Focus on intrinsic motivation Creativity goals Developmental feedback Supportive supervision Healthy competition Participative decision making Autonomy

…Creativity Enhancers Workforce diversity Internal and external interaction Diverse teams skilled at working together Supportive climate Organizational culture the promotes innovation Flexible, flat structures Close interaction and relationships with customers

How Can Organizations Foster Creativity? Hire creative & diverse workforce Provide resources esp. time Design complex & challenging jobs Set clear org. goals “Be Creative!” Set creativity goals Use diverse teams Recognize & reward creativity Create the right org. culture

Management Style and Creativity Encourage risk taking Provide autonomy Encourage productivity - “sweat equity” Supportive supervision, climate, and work group Participative leadership

Organization Design and Creativity Flexible Flat Structures That promote Internal & External Interaction Close Contact w/ Customers

Creativity Killers Excessive focus on extrinsic motivation Limits set by superiors Critical evaluation Close, controlling supervision Competition in a win-lose situation Control of decision making Control of information

Stages in the Creative Process Preparation Verification Incubation Illumination

Flow - Defined The flow experience occurs when people experience a state of effortless concentration and enjoyment

Creative Thinking Techniques Brainstorming Rules Expressiveness - Say whatever ideas come to mind without focusing on constraints Non-evaluation - No criticism allowed; all are valuable Quantity - Produce as many ideas as possible Building - Expand on other people’s ideas

… Creative Thinking Techniques Brainwriting Hybrid of both individual and group brainstorming Produces more ideas than brainstorming

Steps to Personal Creativity 1. Accept that you can be creative 2. Question traditional assumptions 3. Expand your problem-solving styles 4. Employ creativity techniques 5. Practice thinking in new ways 6. Learn when your creative thinking is best 1. Everyone can be creative in some ways. 2. Ask “why” something is done the way it is; look for a different way, e.g., why are ketchup and mayonnaise in breakable jars? Put them in squeezable plastic. 3. If you rely heavily on rational thinking, try to develop intuitive skills and vice versa; use both. 4. There are many hundreds of creativity techniques, including brainstorming, dreaming, imagining, etc. 5. If you tend to think in words, try to use pictures. Use analogies or liken things to other things. 6. Although fully awake you might be very rational, when you’re tired or fed up you might be more willing to try new ideas; there may be times of the day when you are more creative.

Relevance to Globalization In a rapidly changing global world, managers must use all their abilities to anticipate opportunities and threats. Executives, for example, have to anticipate industry trends, just as you want to anticipate them for your projects. Let’s see how they do this and then practice how we can use creativity and innovation to gain insight into industry trends. Use a video from the Business 2000 series: either: The Automobile Industry which in the first sections shows various industry executives describing their view of the future (call #HD9710/A87/1996) or The Food Industry (call # TP 370/F6/1996) When viewing the video, be looking for visions of the future:

Stimulants to Work Creativity 1) FREEDOM in deciding work to do or how to do it 2) CHALLENGE to work hard on important projects 3) RESOURCES needed to do the work 4) ENCOURAGEMENT from a supervisor who is a good work model, sets appropriate goals, supports and has confidence in the work group. 5) WORK GROUP SUPPORTS such as diverse skills, people who communicate well, are open to new ideas, constructively challenge one another’s work, trust and help each other, and feel committed to their work 6) ORGANIZATIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT in a culture that supports creativity and communicates a shared vision of organization. Source material: KEYS: Assessing the Climate for Creativity developed by the Center for Creative Leadership from the work of Teresa Amabile and Stan Gryskiewicz; for additional information see publication of the Center for Creative Leadership: New survey measures creativity in the workplace. (1995) Issues and Observations, 15 (3: 2, 9).

Obstacles to Work Creativity 1) ORGANIZATIONAL IMPEDIMENTS such as internal political problems, harsh criticism of new ideas, destructive internal competition, avoidance of risk and overemphasis on the status quo. 2) WORKLOAD PRESSURES such as extreme time pressure, unrealistic expectations, or distractions.