Creativity and Innovation Management – Personality Testing
Whilst tests measuring the creative or innovative personality exist, there are a number of inherent flaws. Some are noted below:
a) Whether a creative or innovative type exists at all is highly contentious. Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation – universal abilities. Creativity can be defined as producing a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas – universal abilities. Traits are not stable or transferable across situations. Motivation is a critical factor.
b) Due to the numerous relevant definitions of creativity and innovation, it is clear that a number of differing and distinct competencies are involved. It is unlikely (or rare) that all competencies are present in single individual.
c) Creativity is a cognitive process and case dependent. Not all people produce equal quantities of ideas across tasks and, importantly, the same people do not produce equal quantities of ideas across tasks.
d) Too many assumptions are made. Some have been indicated : the assumption that creativity and innovation are stable and transferable across situations ; motivation and competencies are not accounted for etc etc etc.
f) Collaboration, networking and such are ignored. Intellectual
FDA Detains OJ Imports After Finding Fungicide
The Food and Drug Administration has detained several shipments of imported orange juice after finding traces of carbendazim, an illegal fungicide. The government says the juice is safe to drink. But carbendazim is not U.S.-approved and any juice that contains small amounts must be detained.
Credit Ratings Cut For Italy, 4 Other EU Nations
U.S. ratings agency Fitch also downgraded Belgium, Cyprus, Slovenia and Spain. It blamed the revisions on "the marked deterioration in the economic outlook" in Europe.
A Mobile Wallet: Cash, Credit, Or... Cell Phone?
Google already offers a way to pay for lunch or groceries using its "Google Wallet" on an Android phone--cell providers and banks aren't far behind with payment systems of their own. Analyst Gilles Ubaghs talks about how coupons and convenience might persuade customers to make the switch.
cross pollination results in a higher degree of creative output than is produced by individuals alone.
g) The generalisability, variability and reliability of the test paramters can be disputed.
These 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.
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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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.
|