Creativity and Innovation

Discussion Session #21

To strive and thrive you need creative ideas

….downsizing tends to make us timid when we need to be bold

….the creative employees are the ones that will survive

The Creative Process

1. The work environment2. Traits3. The four step creative process4. Brainstorming5. Divergent thinking

The Creative Process

…..is anything but orderly…..has no respect for time

The Creative Process

1. The work environment2. Traits3. The four step creative process4. Brainstorming5. Divergent thinking

1. The environment that supports creativity….

The size of the team is critical Think about where you come up with your

more creative ideas A passion for what they were doing, a

genuine respect for others’ ideas

The Creative Process

1. The work environment2. Traits3. The four step creative process4. Brainstorming5. Divergent thinking

2. Traits of creative people

Simply believing you’re creative Curiosity Confidence Courage Constancy

They understand the creative process itself

The Creative Process

1. The work environment2. Traits3. The four step creative process4. Brainstorming5. Divergent thinking

3. The 4-step Creative Process

1. Preparation2. Incubation3. Inspiration4. Verification

Preparation

Gather data1. Subject-specific2. Divergent

Incubation

Steps to achieve “alpha state” Close your eyes Slow, deep breaths Focus on a single image

Inspiration

Be prepared to act Don’t waste a good idea

Verification

Ideas are common…..

…it takes more than merely a good idea

The Creative Process

1. The work environment2. Traits3. The four step creative process4. Brainstorming5. Divergent thinking

4. Brainstorming

Define the problem Write it down so the whole team sees it Let everyone take 10-20 minutes to think

quietly and write down their ideas in silence

Let everyone give one idea from their list Encourage “out of the box” thinking

Four laws of suggestion

1. The mind understands the Positive.2. Your mind only recognizes the Present.

Say “I am successful”, not “I will be successful”.

3. Repetition or Persistence increases the power

4. Emotion or Passion increases the power of suggestion

The Creative Process

1. The work environment2. Traits3. The four step creative process4. Brainstorming5. Divergent thinking

5. Divergent Thinking (Manipulation)

Throw your mind out to something other than what you are working on

As it wanders back, it will hopefully bring up some interesting merging ideas

Managing to Creativity

Keep the passion flowing Keep the focused on what the purpose is

Continue to break down inhibitions between team members Improvisation

Structure the group differently Provides several iterations of solutions Smaller teams with more “talk time”

Putting Creativity to Work

Part of your life Quantify creativity Part of your culture

Top 10 Commandments for Managing Creative People

1. Give folks time to follow their muse2. Create a culture of cooperation3. Measure your results4. Stay ahead of the customer5. Stage a lot of celebrations

Top 10 Commandments for Managing Creative People

6. Be honest and know when to say no7. Make the company a lifetime career8. Give your best managers assignments

overseas9. Keep increasing R & D spending10. Don’t heed everything Wall Street tells

you

Evaluation QuestionsUse:A. Strongly agreeB. AgreeC. DisagreeD. Strongly disagreeE. Don’t know

1. I found the presentation of material easy to understand.2. This Advantage session increased my knowledge on the subject

presented.3. I will be able to use some of the information from this Advantage

session in the future.4. The presenter was well prepared for this Advantage session.5. This presentation should be repeated in future semesters.