Creativity and Innovation Directors, Consultants and Managers

Creativity and Innovation is essential for competitive advantage, yet the role of Creativity and Innovation Manager is often not viewed as essential. Organizations without such a role will simply not perform as competitively as their rivals.

People within and outside of an organization see problems all the time, but rarely are those problems dealt with in time. Tangible negative movements usually force change ? shortcomings in expected growth, a fall in share price etc.

Some of the requirements of Creativity and Innovation Directors, Consultants or Managers include:

a) Tracking problems as seen from within and outside the organisation. On all levels, from product development to sales and marketing and customer response, people see problems. Reporting them to line managers is rarely sufficient ? line managers usually do not have direct links to the real decision makers.

b) Monitoring competitors and benchmarking in-house creativity and innovation processes and structures. Rivals are continually attempting to gain market share and sporadically, leapfrog the competition. Lack of awareness and preparation can be disastrous.

c) Conducting sustained problem identification and idea generating sessions. Problem identification and idea generation need to be consistent activities to maximise output and train all members of the organization into problem solving proactively.

d) Monitoring group structures to maximise productivity. Teamwork throughout the organization can be optimised with careful consideration of group structures.

e) Ensuring tangible links to decision makers.

f) Ensuring tangible progress of ideas along the innovation pathway.

g) Selecting those ideas that are most likely to succeed, using the S-curve, idea source probabilities and so forth.

h) Monitor and maximise motivation.

i) Assist members of the organization in maximising their creative and innovative output. Some organizations have already started such schemes ? one day per week when people are allowed to work on projects they find interesting.

j) Monitor competencies and import knowledge to overcome parochialism and path dependencies.

k) Ensure sustained feedback pathways between departments involved in problem identification, idea generation, idea selection, development and commercialisation exist.

There is much more?.

In conclusion, organizations cannot verbally espouse the creativity and innovation management philosophy without installing creativity and innovation directors, managers and leaders. Not without a loss of competitive advantage.

This topic is 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 a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com.

---

Character: Is It Necessary In Leadership? (Part Two)

In the first part of this two part article, I... Read More

Developing Your Management Style

One thing a lot of us don't do in sales... Read More

Improve Operations by Restructuring

Transitioning from Vertical Hierarchies to Decentralized / Flatter OrganizationsThe need... Read More

Innovation Management ? Selecting Good Ideas

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

Six Reasons to K.I.S.S.

Six Reasons to K.I.S.S. "Very often, people confuse simple with... Read More

Creating A Vision ? Bringing Your Dreams Into Reality

Do you have some goals you want to achieve or... Read More

Think Twice Before Selling ROI

When we're selling to business people, our value proposition has... Read More

Plan for Business Success - 6 Reasons to Succession Plan

Succession Planning provides many valuable assets to your business. Yet... Read More

Bye-Bye Boring Meetings! Make Yours Remarkable!

It's the middle of the night. You've woken up with... Read More

Delegation: When to Delegate, Who to Delegate to

There are some very simple guides for delegation.Most people delegate... Read More

Be a Leader - The Importance of Going Home Early!

How you run your business is, of course your business.... Read More

Turnaround or Terminate? How to Deal with Problem Employees

Do you struggle with a "problem" employee? If so, join... Read More

Choosing the Right Corporate Training

According to a Gallup Poll, 80 percent of employees said... Read More

Which ITIL Process Should We Implement First?

The following question is usually debated a lot amongst IT... Read More

What to Do When Trust is Low

Trust is essential. You can't run a business without it.... Read More

Making Powerful Requests That Launch People Into Action

Do you ever wonder why people do not simply do... Read More

3 Tests To Hire The Best

Question: What's the easiest, cheapest and quickest way to have... Read More

Score the Rainbows Pot of Gold: Become the Boss That No One Wants to Leave

Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the... Read More

What Makes a Crisis a Crisis?

If you're old enough and were living in America about... Read More

Business Intelligence & Data Warehousing in a Business Perspective

Business IntelligenceBusiness Intelligence has become a very important activity in... Read More

Assertive Communication - 6 Tips For Effective Use

What IS assertive communication? Assertive communication is the... Read More

Important Communication Tips For Managers

The following tips will help you communicate more effectively with... Read More

Innovation Management ? Raw brainpower versus experience

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

Business Fit

I have been an entrepreneur for over twenty years and... Read More

Turbo-Charge Your Rollout with ERM

Employees are the often-neglected stakeholders in the success or failure... Read More

Innovation Management ? does the idea fit with the firm?

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

Squeezing the Blood Out of that Old Turnip

I suspect all of you out there have someone that... Read More

Human Resources: The Misidentified Subject

Interest in the field of human resources has exploded in... Read More

How to Create Trust

People buy from you, offer help, and grant rewards based... Read More

Can A Business Still Be Profitable When People Skills Are Absent?

In our current world of rapid and amazing technological advances,... Read More

On The Job Training is Something You Canâ??t Afford to Skip

Trained employees are more productive employees; thereâ??s no doubt about... Read More

Five Principles of Effective Communication

The problem with communication is the illusion that it has... Read More

Management & Leadership - Doing it right in the 21st Century

The Old Way ? Command and ControlAlthough workplaces and management... Read More