Creativity and Innovation

Nancy Goldman Ed.D.

What’s your story?

6 Word Memoir

For Sale: Baby’s shoes. Never worn.

Ernest Hemingway

• “Making a change within a given context that sticks for awhile.” (Gerard Puccio)

• MAKING, which implies that creativity is about taking action, not a state of being;

• CHANGE, which mandates that the output be novel or original;

• STICKS, which suggests meaningfulness;

• AWHILE, which captures the relevance of innovation as well as its often rapid decay.

Why do we need creativity?

• Adapt to change

• Improve our circumstances

• Mastering a body of knowledge is no longer enough. Information changes very rapidly.

Myth #1

• Creativity is mainly associated with the arts

Fact: We are surrounded by creativity

Myth #2

• Children are more creative than adults

CREATIVITY ORIGINALITY

Creativity emerges when these ingredients interact:

•Knowledge•Imagination•Evaluation

•Attitude

C=fa(K,I,E)

• Knowledge – accumulated experience, usually in specific domain.

• Imagination – production of novel ideas to get beyond current level of knowledge.

• Evaluation – assess the options that hold the greatest promise.

• Attitude – give this formula its drive and momentum.

Myth #3

• Creativity is the same thing as originality

• “Good artists copy, great artists steal.” — Pablo Picasso

• “Embrace the remix” Director Kirby Ferguson

Myth #4

• Creativity is innate.

• Domineering father – Leopold Mozart wrote the book on violin instruction

• Composed from the age of 5• Age 17 court musician in Salzberg• 600+ compositions

Fact: Creativity can be learned

Creativity is a Skill

It requires:• Practice – repetition, push the envelope• Learning – get a coach or mentor• Feedback – so you don’t practice bad habits

Ben Franklin

Myth #5

• Creativity is the same as innovation

Fact: What is Innovation?

• The process of implementing new ideas to create value for an organization. This may mean creating a new service, system, or process, or enhancing existing ones - Yale ITS

How to foster creativity

• Cultivate an attitude of open mindedness• Experiment – trial and error• Fail• Reward creative behavior• Create a space that invites creativity• Look for the 3 Indicators - Play, Passion, Purpose