Understanding Creativity
Einstein You’re Not—and Don’t Have to Be - HBS Working Knowledge - The authors of Why Not look to everyday ingenuity—not genius—to solve problems. Hey, who wouldn’t want round-the-clock hotel check-in?
Time Pressure and Creativity: Why Time is Not on Your Side – HBS Working Knowledge -- Even as time pressures increase in corporate life, the need for creative thinking has never been greater.
The Dance of Creativity - HBS Working Knowledge - Choreographer Mark Morris is famous for his boundless talent and versatility. But what can business leaders learn from him?
Creativity Skills
Idea Listing Technique – University of Nevada Extension – A technique groups can use to facility discussions for generating ideas for addressing problems.
Anonymous Brainstorming Technique – University of Nevada Extension – A mind expanding and creative brainstorming technique.
Bright Ideas: The Creative Power of Groups – HBS Working Knowledge -- This summary of research outlines proven strategies for generating the group dynamics that lie at the heart of innovative thinking.
Disruption: The Art of Framing – HBS Working Knowledge -- Your chief competitor creates a breakthrough technology. Should you frame that event inside your company as a threat or opportunity.
Improvising Your Way out of Trouble – HBS Working Knowledge -- Resilient people know how to make do with what's at hand when turbulence arrives.
The Secrets of Successful Idea People – HBS Working Knowledge -- Great ideas don’t execute themselves. Identify the “idea practitioners” in your company—the people who turn blue sky into green profit.
What Steve Wozniak Learned From Failure – HBS Working Knowledge – The Apple II was a hit. The Cloud Nine universal remote was not. Here’s what Steve Wozniak learned about creativity, and what it means for his latest venture.
Creativity in Your Company
Leadership: Fostering Systemic Creativity – HBS Working Knowledge -- Building a creative organization involves a combination of top-down, bottom-up, and brushfire approaches.
The Creativity Maze – HBS Working Knowledge -- In today's knowledge economy, creativity is more important than ever. But in the pursuit of productivity, efficiency, and control — all worthy business imperatives — many companies unwittingly employ managerial practices that kill creativity. How? By crushing their employees' intrinsic motivation — the strong internal desire to do something based on interests and passions.
Can You Predict the Unpredictable? – HBS Working Knowledge -- The study of so-called emergent phenomena can help you grapple with issues as difficult and squishy as motivating employees, predicting changes in corporate culture, and preventing small errors from snowballing into catastrophes.
Knowledge Management: Four Obstacles to Overcome – HBS Working Knowledge -- There are four pitfalls to avoid in implementing a successful knowledge management program at your company.
The Art of Appreciative Inquiry – HBS Working Knowledge -- The process of “appreciative inquiry” gives your company a boost by leveraging what you already do well. Read how the 4-D technique—discover, dream, design, and destiny—is working everywhere from a casino to a coffee roaster.
Think You Manage Creativity? Here's Why You're Wrong – HBS Working Knowledge -- The rational rules of management don't apply when it comes to fostering creative types.