Certain processes enhance creative output and others enhance innovative output. Defining creativity as problem identification and idea generation and innovation as idea selection, development and commercialisation, this article will tackle stages two and three using the three-stage process of lateral thinking, logical thinking and applied creativity.
The start of the process involves building a sizeable idea pool of quality ideas. In this article, we can define quality as being a large number of ideas and a large number of diverse and novel ideas.
Simply creating the above three categories enhances the size of the idea pool. Whereas we might initially have come up with 20 ideas, we are now consciously able to come up with 20 ideas and then 20 others that are purposefully diverse and yet still 20 more that are purposefully novel. This framework that we are beginning to construct begins to show the value of frameworks and models. They break up problems into smaller, more manageable parts and allow the mind to focus on each.
We can also use lateral thinking techniques to enhance the size of our idea pool. This involves processes such as generating ideas without conscious direction, for the sake of generating ideas, purposefully ridiculous ideas, ideas generated from links to diverse and novel objects that have no relation to the apparent problem.
Next, we can use logical thinking to generate ideas and increase the quality of the idea pool still further. This involves using established models and associations that are recognised as being linked to the problem to generate ideas. For example, a million business models exist to address particular problems. SWOT, PEST, Five Forces, Competitive Advantages etc can be used if the issue is indeed a business one.
All of the above requires that creative thinking in general be used. That is daring, uninhibited, free-spirited, imaginative, unpredictable and revolutionary.
With a sizeable and good quality idea pool, we now begin to use critical thinking to reduce the ideas to feasible ones ? applied creativity. Critical thinking involves being reductive, logical, focused, conservative, practical and feasible.
Once we have a list of feasible ideas, we then further reduce the selection further through risk-reward mechanisms such as the S-curve and idea source probabilities. That is because most organizations do not have the resources to innovate all their good ideas and so only the most likely are given the resources and opportunity to succeed.
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.
When the typical new business operator starts a business, they... Read More
People are empowered when they are given the authority and... Read More
Quality hiring is more than running ads, screening, interviewing and... Read More
Do you struggle with a "problem" employee? If so, join... Read More
Five monkeys were placed in a cage. A banana was... Read More
The second you quit being the 'best deal' for your... Read More
Many retailers do not have good internal controls in place... Read More
What is the Process Approach to Quality?The ISO 9001 2000... Read More
Even in today's still uncertain economic times, there are companies... Read More
Many organizations have an approach for identifying and recording lessons... Read More
COLLECTIVE WISDOM CAN BE AN effective tool for solving the... Read More
Starting up a new venture or business can be one... Read More
The digital divide is defined by the role computers play... Read More
While there exist several useful definitions of motivation, for our... Read More
Statistics consistently reinforce that the biggest challenge in today's contact... Read More
Do you announce a meeting and find either no one... Read More
Left alone it doesn't take long for a building with... Read More
One of the more ambiguous elements of a Six Sigma... Read More
Unhappy as Jenny undoubtedly was, she held on very tightly... Read More
Globalisation, the expansion of intercontinental trade, technological advances and the... Read More
What behaviour maximises the chances of thinking of great ideas?... Read More
Effective communication in business is not about creating the perfect... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Note: This article was written for a internet business site.... Read More
Q: I am an executive at a large company and... Read More
One of the first questions we ask a prospect or... Read More
The following tips will help you communicate more effectively with... Read More
Many entrepreneurs and chief executive officers are unaware that there... Read More
Interested in learning how to reduce development time, save money... Read More
STEPS TOWARDS A GOOD APPRAISAL INTERVIEW:Don't say: "You just don't... Read More
Cold Water Comments - What They Are and How to... Read More
Employees are the often-neglected stakeholders in the success or failure... Read More
Recent trends in software development market show that it is... Read More
Each year, businesses write-off six percent of revenue to waste,... Read More
One of the biggest problems we encounter in our consulting... Read More
Management or Leadership?Simply stated, management ensures that things get done,... Read More
Lack of Operations Manuals stunting your growth?CONTENTS:1. Do you lack... Read More
A virtual assistant is an individual who provides business services... Read More
When you create your profit and loss statement to assess... Read More
Living in the 21st Century is truly marvelous, isn't it?... Read More
Good news spreads quickly News of the invention of the... Read More
(prez.un.TEE.iz.um) nPresenteeism, a relatively unknown concept, is the complement of... Read More
ACCOUNTING AND BILLINGCHECK BOOKSWe recommend that you maintain a business... Read More
Of the many areas in international business where cultural differences... Read More
The current economy is causing most companies to tighten their... Read More
You can't build a reputation on what you are "going"... Read More
Bad meetings are a cultural malady that senior executives pass... Read More
Do you have more projects than time? Help might be... Read More
The purpose of any selection process is to discriminate (albeit... Read More
If you are a department, division or subsidiary manager, your... Read More
People sometimes interchange the terms "know-how" and "knowledge", but there's... Read More
You need to secure money for your project. You visit... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
One of the most difficult and emotionally draining situations you... Read More
I've been both a CEO and a consultant, so I've... Read More
You can't solve a problem with the... Read More
In any event, getting the process right is a vital... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Businesses miss on growth opportunities and even close their doors... Read More
Eventually, your business is going to need to have some... Read More
We all have psychic abilities that we use daily, although... Read More
This article relates to the Compensation and Benefits competency, commonly... Read More
ACTIVE LISTENING: The most frequent cause of failure in therapeutic... Read More
Probably as well known as SWOT, SMART turns goals, objectives... Read More
The Leader's Fallacy lives! We subscribe to the Fallacy when... Read More
My experience working with thousands of leaders world wide for... Read More
Business Management |