Business Innovation ? Ignoring Content

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Ignoring Content

A useful approach when generating ideas is simply to ignore content. Evaluating content is a hindrance rather than an enhancer. If the people who wrote Red Riding Hood had realised the number of interpretations and analysis it was going to receive, they may have given up on the project.

Ignoring content allows a number of processes to occur, including:

a) Isolates creative from critical thinking. The two should be separate and distinct. Writing and rewriting are two different processes. Critical thinking is best done in the presence of and utilising the competencies of other people.

b) Allows disparate, novel, diverse, nonsensical, non-related and irrelevant ideas to thrive. The basis of lateral thinking.

c) Helps to abandon defences, reveal the innermost self, treat all ideas as 'normal,' reduces evaluation apprehension etc.

These and other topics are 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.

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 MBA, 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/

---

Five Ways to Increase Profitability By Doing The Right Thing

1. Base your business in the Magic Triangle. Honesty, integrity,... Read More

Managing Creativity - An Oxymoron! Not

Interrogated on a beach in Barbados by friends insistent that... Read More

Better Management Performance - The Easy 3-Step Way

Managers make three mistakes when they try to run businesses.... Read More

What Consultants Want You to Know (But You Never Ask)

I've been both a CEO and a consultant, so I've... Read More

Quick Tip - Effective Meetings Begin With Goals

Goals are critically important for the success of a meeting.... Read More

Train Me -- But Follow Through

My mechanic has me trained. When I take my car... Read More

Why People Resist Us

There's a one-word reason most ideas never see the light... Read More

Knowledge Management: More Than Just Know-how!

People sometimes interchange the terms "know-how" and "knowledge", but there's... Read More

Do You Need a Personal Assistant?

It's great to be multi-skilled?be able to type your own... Read More

Innovation Management ? changing the world!

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

The How-Tos of Firing Incompetent Employees

CATEGORIES OF OFFENSES: Most organizations have two categories of offenses... Read More

Lets Flourish and Prosper!

Some say that in business as in sex: if it... Read More

Preparing For ISO 9001 2000 Registration

The steps need to be taken to prepare an organization... Read More

What to Do When Trust is Low

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

The Comfort Zone

The Comfort Zone I... Read More

10 Fundamentals for Effective Meeting

Here are ten fundamental concepts that characterize an effective meeting.Definition:... Read More

Innovation Management ? Raw brainpower versus experience

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

Real Costs in Distribution and What it Means To Your Company

Ever feel that all the lawyers in thh Country need... Read More

Vampire Meetings and How To Slay Them

Meetings can be like mythical vampires ? sucking the life... Read More

Integrity... Should It Matter?

In our fast paced work culture, manned by technology savvy... Read More

A Winning Way to Handle New Ideas

Janet DiClaudio, who was charge of medical records at two... Read More

Management Development - Micromanagement Works!

Getting into the detail of everything each of your people... Read More

Management Procedures Usability ? How to Improve

Are your people consistently following your procedures? Each year, organizations... Read More

Appraisal Systems - Not Living Up to Their Objectives

Almost, if not all organisations have them, they've been around... Read More

A Leadership Screw Driver: The 90 Day Improvement Plan

I was talking with first-line supervisors in a utility company... Read More

Indecent Proposal in the Workplace ? An Overview of Workplace Harassment & Employer Liability

An allegation of harassment in the workplace is a growing... Read More

Creativity Management and Time Pressure

There is a pervasive belief that time pressure stimulates creativity.... Read More

Taking Care of Middle Manager Bounce Off

How many times have the management consultants been 'in' and... Read More

How to Deal With Salespeople

If you are an executive, you may sometimes feel like... Read More

The Four Key Steps In Hiring And Keeping Top People

"When you hire the best, the rest is easy!" We... Read More

The Three-Dimensional Communication System

Human communication is always three-dimensional. No spoken or written message... Read More

Make a Difference - Sweat the Small Stuff First

My background is in retail management - yes, running stores,... Read More

How to Leverage Your Strengths for Peak Performance

Ask almost any business leader how to most effectively develop... Read More