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Informative Articles

Creative Innovation in just 60 seconds!
Einstein once defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." But how do we start learning new techniques of doing things? How do we start to think differently and make the most of...

Guide for Visionary Leaders and Business Decision-makers.
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Home Business
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Measuring Creativity, Diy Style
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PLORK: Creative Laziness, Part 1
If you work for someone else, when was the last time your boss said to you, "I think you're working too hard. I want you to take some time off a just loaf around. In fact, I insist. We'll even pay you for it." Even less likely, if you're...

 
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


Can Physicists Be Funny?
Scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research are taking improv comedy classes so they can better explain to a nervous world that the new Large Hadron Collider will not, in fact, create a black hole that could end life on earth. Physicist Bob Stanek and improv pioneer Charna Halpern talk about helping scientists communicate better.

African Dust Linked To Hurricane Strength
In 2005 and 2006, winds off of Africa contained large amounts of dust, which scientist say may have dampened storms in the Atlantic Ocean. But this year, the air is clear and powerful storms are lining up to strike the U.S.

Study: Sea Levels Won't Rise As Much As Predicted
Sea levels could rise between 2.5 and 6 feet this century as a result of global warming, a new study reports. That estimate is lower than some widely circulated figures.


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.