Week 8 Flashcards
What is the definition of creativity (Amabile)?
The production of novel and useful ideas.
What is the definition of innovation?
The production of new ideas and their commercialization as a product or service.
What are the 5 steps in the creative process?
Opportunity/problem recognition
Immersion
Creative incubation
Insight (Eureka moment)
Verification/application
What is divergent thinking?
Generating multiple possible solutions or ideas; flexible and explorative
What is convergent thinking?
Narrowing down to the best solution; analytical and focused.
What are the four characteristics of creative leaders?
Knowledge (technical/practical know-how)
Cognitive abilities (intuition, flexibility, divergent thinking)
Personality (independent, persistent, self-confident)
Passion (intrinsic motivation, interest in the task)
What external factors may hinder innovation?
Economic instability, lack of resources, and cultural conformism.
Name 5 common barriers to creativity and innovation.
Fear of failure
Lack of leadership support
Short-term thinking
Lack of collaboration
Emotional stress/anxiety
What are some organisational methods to enhance creativity?
Brainstorming
Idea quotas (“bring 2 ideas”)
Unstructured time (e.g., Google’s 20% time)
Feedback tools (pet-peeves)
Use of AI (e.g., ChatGPT for divergent thinking)
What leadership practices support creativity?
Creativity-oriented HR (hiring/spotting creative talent)
Diverse and supportive teams
Stimulating tasks
Empowerment and autonomy
Leader and organizational support
Time and funding
Delayed financial rewards
Risk-tolerant, original culture
What leadership style best supports innovation?
Transformational leadership.
What is “loose-tight leadership”?
Balancing control with freedom – encouraging wild ideas (e.g., NASA’s warp drive).
What are “what/if” questions used for in creativity?
To challenge assumptions and open up new possibilities.
What is both/and thinking?
Embracing paradoxes and balancing competing needs.
What is counterfactual thinking?
Exploring “what if” alternatives to learn from past outcomes and generate new ideas.
How does mind-wandering help creativity?
It enables creative incubation by allowing unconscious connections to form.
What is the role of mindfulness in creativity?
Improves focus, problem-solving, and flexibility.
What are the 4 phases of the idea journey?
eneration – Creating and selecting promising ideas
Elaboration – Developing and refining the idea with feedback
Championing – Gaining support and resources
Implementation – Turning the idea into a tangible product or solution
