CINE Course-2006
Anshul Saxena
Creativity and Innovation in Theory and Practice: A Critical Overture
By, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM)
(page 339 of case material)
This reading basically talks about difference between creativity and innovation and hence
after understanding creativity and innovation separately, how to support them.
In common, Innovation is described as the solution for a wide range of problems that an
organization faces. Whereas, creativity is defined as the process of finding a novelty and
then transforming findings into observable products. The innovative performance of an
individual depends on social judgment of others who may recognize this product as
novel.
The author finds that key problem in research field so far is that the theoretical difference
between the constructs of innovation and creativity has not been fully defined. So in this
reading he tries to provide some insights that can help in this regard.
Organization innovation has been defined as ‘novelty that is useful’ i.e. the process of
bringing novelty to use. Hence organizations have described innovation as a process of
commercializing an invention. But author feels this definition is problematic since
innovation is a label given to something ‘judged as new and useful’. Hence author takes
help of organizational psychology and quotes the definition given by West and Farr,
which he feels is most appropriate definition of innovation:
“the intentional introduction and application within a role, group or organization of ideas,
processes or procedures, new to the relevant unit of adoption, designed to significantly
benefit the individual, group, organization or society.”
Author agrees with the explanation that creativity is the development of ideas while
innovation is the implementation and application of ideas.
Also, creativity is more a characteristic of individuals, while innovation implementation
tends to be accomplished by groups, organization or societies.
Now after distinguishing creativity and innovation separately, people and organizations
have to think on support to creativity and support to innovation. I.e. organization have to
make itself clear whether it wants to promote creativity or innovation and after this it has
to separately find creativity and innovation and then support them.