Human Behavior in Organizations Topic- Creativity in Workplace

5/26/2018 Human Behavior in Organizations Topic- Creativity in Workplace

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Guimaras Polytechnic State CollegeSchool of Graduate Studies

Iloilo Extension Center1stSemester 2013 - 2014

HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN ORGANIZATIONSP.A. 202DANES C. GANANCIAL

ReporterMELBA B. SULLIVAN, Ph. D.

Professor

Topic:CREATIVITY IN WORKPLACE

"Creativity is the ability to respond to all that goes on around us, to choosefrom the hundreds of possibilities of thought, feeling, action, and reactionthat arise within us, and to put these together in a unique response,expression, or message that carries moment, passion, and meaning."

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes,Woman Who Run With the Wolves

We need a new frame of reference in which to picture ourselves growingand recognizing how the confluence of inner resources and life circumstancescan present us with opportunities to revive our lives in meaningful, satisfyingways.

- Gene D. Cohen (2000), The Creative Age, p. 77CREATIVITY

Although there are many approaches about creativity, it is commonlydefined as a mental process, which involves the generation of new ideas ornew associations of the creative mind between existing concepts. Analternative conception of creativity is that it is simply the act of makingsomething new.

Even when creativity is popularly associated with art and literature, itis also an essential part of innovation and invention and is important inprofessions such as business, economics, architecture, industrial design,science and engineering.

Creativity n.creative ability; artistic or intellectual inventiveness

Creative adj. having the power to create; pertaining to creation; inventive;productive (of) as in a creative mind

Create v.t.to originate; to bring into being from nothing

Definition (process) A creator [must] claim appreciators or admirers to be legitimatized as

a true creator. (Simonton, 1990) The intersection of two ideas for the first time. (Taylor, 1988) By this term, it means ability to think outside the box, create

something new and find solutions to problems.



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Definition (originality) Creativity "is the skill of bringing about something new and valuable."

(Young, 1985) Creativity is the process of bringing something new into birth. (May,

1959)

The ability to relate and to connect, sometimes in odd and strikingfashion, lies at the heart of any creative use of the mind, no matterwhat field or discipline. (Siedel, 1962)

Three domains of creativity

Art (ah!)as in beauty Discovery (aha!)as in enlightenment. Humor (haha!)as in joyful pleasure.

Left Brain, Right Brain Nobel Prize-winning psychobiologist Roger Sperry showed that:

Each hemisphere of the brain processed different types ofinformation.

o Broadly put, the left brain is the objective, analytical,logical half of the brain, looking at informationsequentially and focusing on individual parts rather thanon the whole.

o The right brain, on the other hand, is the subjective,intuitive, playful part of the brain; it looks at informationin a more random fashion, seeing the whole rather thanthe parts.

CREATIVE THINKINGis the process, which we use when we come up with a new idea. It is dividedinto divergent and convergent reasoning.

Creative thinking styles

DIVERGENT THINKING

Think around or away fromthe problem

Discontinuity / break Dig another hole Spontaneous, informal,

random

Remove constraints Unconscious processes

CONVERGENT THINKING

Think through or into theproblem

Continuity / evolution Dig a deeper hole Systematic, formal, focused Work within constraints Conscious processes



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Divergent thinkingis the intellectual ability to think of many original,diverse, and elaborate ideas.

Convergent thinkingis the intellectual ability to logically evaluate,critique and choose the best idea from a selection of ideas.

Both abilities are required for creative output since divergent thinking isessential to the novelty of creative products whereas convergent thinking isfundamental to the appropriateness.

Diverging and Converging

These are two mutually exclusive mental activities

Joined up thinkingCapacity to move between thinking styles

Tolerance for contradictions: ego strength Putting together habitually disconnected frames of references

bisociation

Creative process is not chaotic, but finds transition points betweenorder and chaos

Creativity and the Value Chain

Flow (Autotelic experience) occurs when people experience a state of

effortless concentration and enjoyment



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Phases of the Creative ProcessPreparation (phase one)

The individual learns about the problem. This includes understanding the elements of the problem and

how they relate to each other.

It may include looking at the problem from differentperspectives or asking other people what they know or thinkabout the problem.

Incubation (phase two)

In this stage, the prepared decision maker explores a multitude ofdifferent paths toward new alternatives.

o Production or generation of new alternativesIllumination (phase three)

This is the instant of becoming aware of a new candidate solution to aproblem, that flash of insight when all the pieces come together,either spontaneously or as the result of careful study and work.

Verification (phase four) In the final step the decision maker must verify that the candidate

solution does in fact have merit.

Three definitions of creativity

ProcessTolerating contradictions + Bisociative thinking

ContentInnovation + Value

OutcomesTransformation + Rethinking(From Bilton and Cummings, Creative Strategy (forthcoming)

The 4 Ps Person Process Product Place (or environment)

Types of Creativity

Eminent CreativityBig C

Everyday CreativityLittleC



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PERSONCreative People: Creative Characteristics

Aware of Creativeness values originality and creativity, values own creativity

Original

Imaginative, full of ideas, is a "what if?" person, resourceful, findsways of doing things differently, challenges assumptions, builds andrebuilds, bored by routine

Independent Individualistic, internally controlled/inner directed, sets own rules, self-

aware, self-accepting, unconcerned with impressing others, may resistsocietal demands

Risk Taking Does not mind consequences of being different, not afraid to try

something new, willing to cope with failure, rejects limits imposed byothers, optimistic

Energetic Adventurous, sensation seeking, enthusiastic, alert, spontaneous,

persevering, impulsive, driving absorption, excitable, enjoys tellingabout discoveries, etc.

Curious Questioning, experimenting, inquisitive, wide interests, open to new

experiences and growthHumorous

Playful, plays with ideas, childlike freshness in thinkingAttracted to Complexity

Attracted to novelty, attracted to the mysterious, tolerant of ambiguity,tolerant of disorder, tolerant of incongruity, tends to believe inpsychical phenomena

Artistic Artistic interests, aesthetic interests

Open-Minded Receptive to new ideas, receptive to other viewpoints, open to new

experiences and growth, liberal, altruisticNeeds Alone Time

Reflective, introspective, internally preoccupied, sensitive, likes to workby himself or herself, may be withdrawn

Perceptive Intuitive, sees relationships, uses all senses in observingExcerpted from: Creativity Is Forever by Gary A. Davis, Kendall/HuntPublishing Co., 2004



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BEING CREATIVE"Being creative is seeing the same thing as everybody else but thinking ofsomething different.

Only if you are able to view things in new ways or from a different

perspective and to generate new possibilities or new alternatives you can bea creative person.The characteristics of the creative personality are:

Creative individuals not only have a great deal of energy, but they arealso quiet.

Creative individuals tend to be smart, yet also naive at the same time. Creative individuals alternate between imagination and reality. Even if creative individuals are remarkable humble, they are proud at

the same time. Most creative people are very passionate about their work, yet they

can be extremely objective about it as well. Creative individuals have a combination of responsibility and

irresponsibility.

PRODUCTWhat makes a product, service, process or procedure innovative?It is useful to think of product/service as a collection of consumer benefitstechnical, non-technical and attitudinal

Creative Product

Convergent Thinking (left brain) Divergent Thinking (right brain)

Fluency Flexibility Originality Elaboration

Fluency refers to the production of a great number of ideas or alternate

solutions to a problem. Fluency implies understanding, not justremembering information that is learned.

Keywords: Compare, convert, count, define, describe, explain, identify, label,list, match, name, outline, paraphrase, predict, summarize.Flexibility

refers to the production of ideas that show a variety of possibilities orrealms of thought. It involves the ability to see things from differentpoints of view, to use many different approaches or strategies.

Keywords: Change, demonstrate, distinguish, employ, extrapolate,interpolate, interpret, predict.



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Originality involves the production of ideas that are unique or unusual. It involves

synthesis or putting information about a topic back together in a newway.

Keywords: Compose, create, design, generate, integrate, modify, rearrange,

reconstruct, reorganize, and revise.

Elaboration is the process of enhancing ideas by providing more detail. Additional

detail and clarity improves interest in, and understanding of, the topic.Keywords: Appraise, critique, determine, evaluate, grade, judge, measure,select, and test.

PROCESSCreative Process

Combinations of two ideas that are unrelated Torrances Definition

I have tried to describe creative thinking as taking place in the process of(1) sensing difficulties(2) making guesses/formulating hypotheses(3)testing these guesses and possibly revising (4) communicating the results. Ilike this definition because it describes a natural process (1995)

Creative Problem Solving (CPS)CPS MODEL (sometimes without first step)

Mess finding (locating a problem) Fact finding (examine what you know) Problem finding (select a definition) Idea finding (brainstorming) Solution finding (evaluating ideas) Acceptance finding (implementing ideas)

Brainstorming As much as you can as fast as you can Piggyback on the ideas of others Dont judge yourself or others Wild, wacky, zany is desired

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 peoples ideas

Brain writing

Hybrid of both individual and group brainstormingProduces more ideas than brainstorming



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CAN YOU TEACH CREATIVITY?? (It depends on your definition)1990s change to Blooms Taxonomy(Reflects the relevance to 21st century skills)

New Bloom Old Bloom

Everyday CreativityNine Key Concepts:

Creativity is the ability to look at the ordinary and see the extraordinary.

Every act can be a creative one. Creativity is a matter of perspective. Theres always more than one right answer. Reframe problems into opportunities. Dont be afraid to make mistakes. Break the pattern. Train your technique. Youve got to really care.

(Dewitt Jones)What is Everyday Creativity?"Everyday creativity is about everyone, throughout our lives, and

fundamental to our very survival...With our everyday creativity, we adaptflexibly, we improvise, we try different options.- Ruth Richards

Creativeness is not identical to mentally-healthy self-actualization; however,it is an important component. Further, the more you come to define creativityas a lifestylea way of living and perceivingthe greater is the overlap.

We know thiseveryone can increase his or her creative capability.- Davis, 2004

Final thoughts

Many definitions of creativity add to the richness and confusionsurrounding the topic

Creativity can be encouraged and aspects can be taught Creative people go through a creative process to produce creative

products in a creative press

Cultivate the creative ideas of others(Bleadow, 2002)



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Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, becausethe greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely place. Those whodont believe in magic will never find it.

CREATIVITY IN MANAGEMENT

What is Creativity? It is the reorganization of experience into new configurations. A function of knowledge, imagination, and evaluation

Creativity in Management: Paradoxical thinkingWhat is creativity?

The industrial definition(DCMS):

Individual creativity, skill and talent. Potential for wealth and job creation Generation and exploitation of intellectual property Implications (the myth of genius) Emphasis on individual talent (myth of genius) Wealth and jobs (economic rationality) Value chaincontent is king, task specialization

Beyond Innovation Innovation + Value / fitness for purpose Ideas are not enough Multiplicity Stages in the process Members of the team From ideas to intellectual property Beyond the myth of genius

Management / strategy as a creative processCreativity as a managed / strategic process

Uncreative management

Career specialization Education Career paths

Organisational specialization Task specialization, especially as organisations growcreatives

vs. suits

Buffering the creative process: talent silos Separation of strategic and operational roles Value chain specialization



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Rethinking creatives vs. suitsThe comfort zone: unmanageable creative and uncreative managersMutual stereotyping which supports task specialization and allows us tofeel superiorThe Dorian Gray Effect: avoiding our own reflections

Rethinking creative individualsKirtons Adapters and InnovatorsMixing not matchingDe Bonos Six Thinking HatsThinking outside the roleBilton & LearyManagement as talent broker

Creative management

Process:paradoxical thinking, tolerating contradictions Honda

Content:innovation + valuable (valuable innovation) Marks & Spencer

Outcome:transformation and rethinking Cirque du Soleil

Creativity and Innovation Innovation vs. creativity

Creativity = the idea Innovation = putting into place

Innovation essential to establish and maintain competitiveadvantage

New approaches Options for adaptation

Creative Personality

An ability to generate large number of ideas To give different perspective Unusual Novel answer Ability to handle ambiguity Intellectual abilities Adequate knowledge Confidence

Learning to Be More Creative:Mental Locks That Block Creativity - Von Oechs Ten Block

The Right Answer - Looking for the right answer. Thats Not Logical- Always trying to be logical. Follow The Rules - Strictly following the rules. Be Practical - Insist on being practical. Play Is Frivolous - Not having serious purpose or value. Thats Not My Area- Becoming too specialized.



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Dont Be Foolish- Not wanting to look foolish. Avoid Ambiguity - Avoiding ambiguity or lack of commitment. To Err Is Wrong Im Not Creative- Saying,Im not creative.

For Discussion: Which of these mental locks typically stifle yourown creativity? What can you do to avoid them?

Creativity: why promote it?

Leads to more rigorous and critical thinking Objectives are achieved more readily Increases motivation, deep concentration and engagement Improves relationships Develops the talent of the individual Develops skills for adult lifeadaptability, coping with uncertainty and

change

Creative Process

A Model of Creativity

Stages Of Creativity

Exploring: Questioning and challenging Inventing: Making significant connections Selecting: Playing with ideas, keeping options open Implementation:Applying learning in new ways and contexts Evaluation: Evaluating ideas and actions



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Enhancing CreativityHow to develop your Creativity

Tools for Developing Creativityo The Global Brain: Internet, Blog, and Wikipedia

The Local Brain: Brain storming The Individual Brain:Eating, Drinking, Playing, Exercising,

Sleeping

Tips on Enhancing Creativity Always keep a notepad around to write down your thoughts.

Even at night, write down what one can remember from mydreams.

Always keep the computer handy so that you can enter well-developed thoughts from your notepad.

Whenever feasible, get on the Internet to do a search to findrelated ideas.

-Newspapers and magazines offer important clues.-To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.

Creativity Techniques Fluent and flexible thinking Idea checklists (Alex F Osborn)

(Add, Subtract, Alter, Rearrange, Adapt, Magnify, Opposite,Minify

Other, Alternative Brainstorming (Alex F Osborn) Synectics (W J J Gordan) Delphi Method Six thinking Hats (Dr. Edward De Bono)

White- Information; Green-Alternatives; Yellowbenefits;Black- Judgment; RedEmotions; Blue-Control

Morphological (Fritz Zwicky)3 to the power 3 Mind Mapping (Tony Buzan) Lateral thinking (Edward De Bono) Guided Visualization

(Chris Musselwhite and Cheryl De Ciantis)Brainstorming: is a lateral thinking process. It asks that people come upwith ideas and thoughts even if it seem at first to be a bit shocking or crazy.

You can then change and improve them into ideas that are useful, and oftenstunningly original.

Synectics: is a problem solving methodology that stimulates thoughtprocesses of which the subject may be unaware. The name Synectics comesfrom the Greek and means, "the joining together of different and apparentlyirrelevant elements. The process was derived from tape-recording (initiallyaudio, later video) meetings, analysis of the results and experiments with



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alternative ways of dealing with the obstacles to success in the meeting."Success" was defined as getting a creative solution that the group wascommitted to implement.

Synectics research has three main assumptions:

The creative process can be described and taught; Invention processes in arts and sciences are analogous and are driven

by the same "psychic" processes;

Individual and group creativity are analogous.Delphi Method: is a structured communication technique, originallydeveloped as a systematic, interactive forecasting method, which relies on apanel of experts. The experts answer questionnaires in two or more rounds.

After each round, a facilitator provides an anonymous summary of theexperts forecasts from the previous round as well as the reasons theyprovided for their judgments. Thus, experts are encouraged to revise theirearlier answers in light of the replies of other members of their panel. It isbelieved that during this process the range of the answers will decrease andthe group will converge towards the "correct" answer. Finally, the process isstopped after a pre-defined stop criterion (e.g. number of rounds,achievement of consensus, stability of results) and the mean or medianscores of the final rounds determine the results.

The six thinking hats: While using this technique, you can see differentalternatives to get the best solution to solve a problem. Your decisions andplans will mix ambition, skill in execution, sensitivity, creativity and goodcontingency planning.

Morphological: is actually a group of methods that share the samestructure. This method breaks down a system, product or process into itsessential sub-concepts, each concept representing a dimension in a multi-dimensional matrix. Thus, every product is considered as a bundle ofattributes. New ideas are found by searching the matrix for new combinationof attributes that do not yet exist. It doesnt prov ide any specific guidelinesfor combining the parameters. It tends to provide a large number of ideas.



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Mind Mapping:

Graphical technique for visualizing connections between several ideasor pieces of information. Each idea or fact is written down and thenlinked by lines or curves to its major or minor (or following orprevious) idea or fact, thus creating a web of relationships.

Is a powerful graphic technique, which provides a universal key tounlock the potential of the brain. It harnesses the full range of corticalskills word, image, number, logic, rhythm, color and spatialawareness in a single, uniquely powerful manner. In so doing, itgives you the freedom to roam the infinite expanses of your brain. TheMind Map can be applied to every aspect of life where improvedlearning and clearer thinking will enhance human performance.

Mind mapping is used in note taking, brainstorming, problem solving,and project planning. Like other mapping techniques its purpose is tofocus attention, and to capture and frame knowledge to facilitatesharing of ideas and concepts.

Guided imagery or visualization:

Imagery is the most fundamental language we have. Everything youdo, the mind processes through images. When we recall events fromour past or childhood, we think of pictures, images, sounds, pain, etc.It is hardly ever be through words.

Unfortunately, many of the images popping into our heads do moreharm than good. In fact, the most common type of imagery is worry.

Being worrying, what we worry about exists only in our imaginations.

One of the main things his research showed was that almost all of theworld-class athletes and other peak performers are visualizers. Theysee it; they feel it; they experience it before they actually do it. Theybegin with the end in mind.

You can do it in every area of your life. Before a performance, a salespresentation, a difficult confrontation, or the daily challenge of meetinga goal, see it clearly, vividly, relentlessly, over and over again. Createan internal "comfort zone." Then, when you get into the situation, itisn't foreign. It doesn't scare you.



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Lateral thinking:

Recognizes that our brains are pattern recognition systems, and thatthey do not function like computers. It takes years of training beforewe learn to do simple arithmetic something that computers do veryeasily. On the other hand, we can instantly recognize patterns such as

faces, language, and handwriting. The only computers that begin to beable to do these things do it by modeling the way that human braincells work. Even then, computers will need to become more powerfulbefore they approach our ability to handle patterns.

The benefit of good pattern recognition is that we can recognizeobjects and situations very quickly. Imagine how much time would bewasted if you had to do a full analysis every time you came across acylindrical canister of effervescent fluid. Most people would just opentheir can of fizzy drink. Without pattern recognition we would starve orbe eaten. We could not cross the road safely.

Unfortunately, we get stuck in our patterns. We tend to think withinthem. Solutions we develop are based on previous solutions to similarproblems. Normally it does not occur to us to use solutions belongingto other patterns.

We use lateral thinking techniques to break out of this patterned wayof thinking.

Lateral thinking techniques help us to come up with startling, brilliantand original solutions to problems and opportunities.

It is important to point out that each type of approach has its strength.Logical, disciplined thinking is enormously effective in making productsand services better. It can, however, only go so far before all practical

improvements have been carried out. Lateral thinking can generatecompletely new concepts and ideas, and brilliant improvements toexisting systems. In the wrong place, however, it can be sterile orunnecessarily disruptive.

Creativity Stimulation Techniques

Reverse Brain storming Creative Overloading Creative benchmarking Creative thinking network

Stakeholder Council Creative Scenario building Exnovation Creativity Training

Determinants of Organizational Creativity

Five major organizational factors that enhance creativity ina work environment:

Organizational climate Leadership style Organizational culture Resources and skills The structure and systems of an organization



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MANAGING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

Innovationis the implementation of new ideas at the individual, group ororganizational level

Creativityis the development of ideas about products, practices, services, orprocedures that are novel and potentially useful to the organization

Eureka! (A cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something)

What Does It Take to Be Creative?o Timeo Hard worko Mental energy

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

Have broad interests Are energetic Drive to achieve

Love their work Take risks



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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 Focus on intrinsic motivation Creativity goals Developmental feedback Supportive supervision Healthy competition Participative decision making Autonomy 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 Workforce diversity Internal and external

interaction

Diverse teams skilled atworking together

Supportive climate Organizational culture that

promotes innovation

Flexible, flat structures Close interaction and

relationships with customers

How Can Organizations Foster Creativity?

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



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Organization Design and Creativity

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

Innovation has three distinct determining characteristics:

Novelty: refers to the originality of the product, service or procedure: thatis, will users be attracted to it because of its uniqueness?

Resolution:refers to whether the idea, product, service or procedure will fillthe bill and be relevant to the problem or unanswered need at hand. In otherwords, the innovative product or service has to be perceived as the answerto the existing challenge, problem or situation.

Elaboration or Synthesis:relates to style and how the product, service orprocedure is completed and presented. Is the product, service or procedure:

Well-crafted and/or appealing to users/consumers? Well presented or packaged? Simple to used or understand? User friendly? Easy to commercialize? Will people buy it and/or use it?

Ideas Management

Ideas need to be: Generated Captured and

Retrievable

Evaluated

Developed Implemented Rewarded

Measured



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Innovation Leadership: Attitudes

Deliberate climate creation and cultural influence Innovation vision Encourage challenge & risk taking Collaboration Resources for innovation Celebration

Innovation Leadership: Innovation Competence

Model and coach for innovation and creativity Develop innovation teams and leaders Generate breakthrough ideas Capitalize on entrepreneurship Customer Service Insight into drivers and opportunities

Four-Power Innovation

This may appear quite simple at first, glance, but it is not easy toimplement without a clear methodology and the associated instruments ateach stage.

As an example - problem clarificationa very important step thatpeople often overlook. ClarifyElevator example. In a new high-rise building,

People complained about the lifts being too slow. Engineering solutionmake lifts go faster. Someone then enquired further and found that peoplewere just getting bored. Different problemthe clarification stage. So whatwas the solution?? Mirrors

Take a look at these four modes of thinking and consider how youinteract with these modes. One of the goals of todays presentation is torecognize that we dont all engage in the breakthroughthinking process inthe same way.



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At this point, you can probably see. you will have a preference for aparticular type of thinking

Not surprisingly, those who have a preference for clarifying thesituation are called Clarifiers. Those who have a preference forgenerating ideas and solutions are called Ideators. Those who have apreference for refining and developing solutions are called Developers.

And those who have a preference for acting to implement plans arecalled Implementers. A proper FourSight assessment will tell you how

strong your energies are for each preference.



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MANAGING FOR PERFORMANCE:INDIVDUAL AND ORGANIZAIONAL CREATIVITY

Ideas are the currency of success. They separate you from your competition.- Edward de Bono

Opening Our Minds: Perception, Curiosity and Exploration Imagine the familiar in a

new light Find links among unrelated

phenomena

Realize the impact of

change

Accept new perspectives Follow a broad and moving

path

Exploring Creative Thinking Techniques

Soft Thinkingmetaphor, dream, play, intuition, ambiguous, fantasy, approximate

humor

Hard Thinkinglogic reason, work adult, analysis, consistency, reality exact precision -von Oech R. (1998). A Whack on the Side of the Head

Visual Thinking ActivitiesPerceptual, imagery, daydreaming, metaphoric, synectics, patterns

Idea Listing ActivitiesAttribute listing, morphological synthesis, second best answer,checklist, just suppose

Writing ActivitiesWebbing, mapping, wet inking, reflection writing, story starters

Group Interaction ActivitiesSimulation, role-play, creative dramatics, six hats, fish bowl,brainstorming, reverse brainstorming

Process-Product ActivitiesProblem finding, problem defining, problem-based learning



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Examining Creativity in the Workplace Supervisors that held higher creativity expectations were viewed as

rewarding creativity, recognizing creative efforts, allocating moreresources, encouraging collaboration and sharing, applying creativegoal setting and modeling creative behavior in their own work

Employees interpret meaning through environmental cues andsupervisors must communicate through behavior.

Self-efficacy levels influence the extent to which employees entertaincreative activities, initiate creative acts, and sustain creative levels intheir work.

Supervisors must be aware of the impact and clearly stateexpectations to shape creative effort and manage thesupervisor/employee relationship.

Individuals often generalize their relationships with direct reports to the entireorganization; this perceived support of creativity has even greater impact onthe individuals relationship to the organization as a whole.Measuring Creativity

Divergent Thinking TestsOpen-ended questions Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking Guilford Tests Personality & Biographical Inventories perceptions, attitudes,

values, interests, motivations Hocevar

Personality Traits of the Creative Person

Self-Actualized Creativity (Maslow) Perceive reality more accurately and objectively; tolerate and even like

ambiguity; are not threatened by the unknown. Accept themselves, others, and human nature. Are spontaneous, natural, and genuine. Are problem-centered, non-egotistical; have a philosophy of life and probably

a mission in life Need some privacy and solitude more than others do; are able to concentrate

intensely. Are independent, self-sufficient and autonomous; have less need for praise

or popularity.

Have capacity to appreciate again and again simple and commonplaceexperiences; have zest in living, ability to handle stress, high humor. Have (and are aware of) their rich, alive, fulfilling peak experiences. Have deep feelings of brotherhood with all mankind; are benevolent,

altruistic. Form strong friendship ties with relatively few people; are capable of greater

love. Are democratic, unprejudiced in the deepest possible sense. Are strongly ethical and moral individual (not necessarily conventional) ways;

enjoy work in achieving a goal as much as the goal itself; are patient, for the



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most part. Have a more thoughtful, philosophical sense of humor that is constructive,

not destructive. Are creative, original inventive with a fresh, nave, simple and direct way of

looking at life; tend to do most things creatively but do not necessarilypossess great talent.

Are capable of detachment from their culture; can objectively comparecultures; can take or leave conventions.- Davis (1998) Creativity is Forever

Your character is your destiny On a circle, an end point can also be a beginning point A thing rests by changing You cant step in the same river twice The sun is new each day When there is no sun, we can see the evening stars

CREATIVE WORKPLACE DESIGNSStimulating Creativity In The Workplace

Creativity can be stimulated in the workplace in a variety of ways to enhancecreative thinking and productivity.

1. Encourage Unconventional Thinking:Traditional thinking that only certain people are creative has to be thrown outthe window as all of us have a certain amount of creativity within us.Everyone in the creative workplace should be encouraged to think Outsidethe Box, (the Box being conventional thinking). Knowledge, technical skills ,every day life experiences and thinking in new and unconventional ways

about things are just some of the things that contribute to creativity in theworkplace.2. Challenge The Rules of Thinking:Humans thought the world was flat and we would fall off the edge untilsomeone thought the rules of thinking were wrong, challenged and changedthem and set about proving that the world is in fact round. Thomas Edisonsaid, If we did all things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonishourselves. Let go of the old traditional ways of thinking. There are alwaysnew ways of doing things, challenge traditional thinking, be innovative in yourthinking and encourage it in the workplace. Remove the It can only be donethis way mind set.

3. Recognize and Encourage Creative Talents:Creative talent comes in many forms from cooking, writing, designing ordecorating the home or office. Recognizing Creative Talents andencouraging them whenever possible will promote creativity and productivityin the workplace.4. Encourage And Share New Ideas/Imagination:Open planning invites conversation and encourages interaction and thesharing of new and imaginative ideas. The downside of Open planning can beinterruption from elsewhere in the workplace. With careful balancing between



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interaction and interruption, fostering creative thinking in the workplace ispossible.5. Remove Distractions:

A tidy workplace stimulates creative thinking. Remove all of the clutter(boxes, unnecessary papers, rubbish etc.) from the workplace. Have a Quiet

Area within the workplace to finalize and consolidate ideas, or maybe, go tothe park for quite reflection and consolidation of ideas.6. Make The Office Fun:

Author Roger Von Oech wrote, Necessity may be the mother of invention,but play is certainly the father. A fun office environment is essential to acreative and productive workplace. Inspiration can come in many forms; ie:Music, Art, Plants and Animals can enhance creativity. Creativity is associatedwith Joy and Love and negativity associated with Fear, Anxiety and Anger. Sowhenever possible make sure the workplace is a Fun and Happyenvironment. Todays happiness often predicts tomorrows creativity.7. Remove Competitive Boundaries:Studies have shown creativity is compromised when people in a workgroupcompete instead of collaborating. When people compete for information theystop sharing information and that doesnt stimulate creative thinking. Nosingle individual has got all the information required to complete the creativeprocess. Encourage the sharing of ideas and the ideas will benefit greatly.8. Furnishings and Layout:Ergonomics are a consideration that should be made as a persons comfort isa big part of their creativity, and the workplace layout is a big part of thecreative process.9. Brainstorming Ideas:

Have regular group meetings or think tanks with the Creative Team todiscuss ideas for Ad Campaigns or general workplace environment.10. Be Flexible:Flexibility is a key component of the creative workplace. Be willing to try newand different approaches to just about anything and you will see the creative

juices flow.Value and recognize peoples talent and creativity will flourish, and rememberCreative Thinking turns great ideas into reality.

Blocking Creativity In The Workplace

Creativity can be blocked in the workplace in a variety of ways

1. Being To Practical:Being practical is good business sense but can restrict Creative Thinking.Complacency, lack of innovation or not trying new things to inspire andinterest people can all block creativity in the workplace.2. Competition, Not Collaboration:If only one persons opinion matters then you have an unhealthy workplace.Keeping ideas to yourself can block the growth of the idea, while sharing the



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idea may enhance it. If there is no collaboration of ideas and no sharing ofideas, the Creative Process is stifled. Too much competition can blockcreativity while Creative Teams sharing and debating ideas enhancescreativity.3. Seeing Failure As A Negative:

Seeing failure as a negative will discourage a person and inhibit their CreativeIdeas. Not seeing failure as a stepping-stone to new ideas would blockcreativity in the workplace.4. Following The Rules:Following the rules of Standard Business Practice will keep your businessmoving forward, but too many rules and boundaries or a lack of flexibility canblock creativity in the workplace.

5. Inhibiting Creative Talents:Restricting people to one area of work and not allowing interaction andsharing of ideas will block creativity in the workplace, as will failure to look atnew and innovative ways of creative thinking.6. Group Think Mindset:Peer pressure can cause people to agree to something they wouldnt normallyagree to. This Group Think mindset stops people from being creative;people will agree to agree because the Boss may think a certain way andthis blocks peoples creativity in the workplace.7. Failure to encourage or recognize talent:Failing to recognize talent in people will block their creativity, so it isimportant to recognize and encourage that talent.8. Too Many Distractions:

Clutter (boxes, papers, note pads, etc.), lack of space, wrong furnishings orthe lack of flare can all contribute to blocking creativity in the workplace.9. Creative Boundaries:If you restrict people in their creative thinking by giving them boundariesthen you block their creativity. True creativity has no boundaries orrestrictions placed on it so remove as many boundaries as possible in thecreative thinking process.10. No Flexibility:

An unwillingness to be flexible with your thinking will quickly block creativityand lead to a general unhappiness in the workplace. This lack of creativity willeventually cause you to lose clients. Fail to value and recognize peoplestalent and creativity will never flourish, and remember Creative Thinking turnsgreat ideas into reality.

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Human Behavior in Organizations Topic- Creativity in Workplace