The Concepts of Creativity and Innovation Applied to Solve a Business Problem - Coursework Example

Creativity and Innovation Many business experts agree that creativity and innovation are some of the things that can give an organization an edge over its competitors (Ekvall 1999, p.406). While this is the case, many people often assume that creativity and innovation are one and the same thing. The two concepts are greatly related as many experts agree although they are altogether different in meaning. This paper will discuss the concepts of creativity and innovation before analysing a case in which creativity was applied to solve a business problem. According to Teresa Amabile, a professor at the Harvard Business School, creativity is something that creative people do (Amabile 1996, p. 1). While noting that the social environment can influence the frequency and level of creative behaviour, Amabile points out that creativity involves the production of novel, practical, and helpful ideas in any domain (Amabile 1996, p. 1). She further notes that the idea or product may not be different from their counterparts for merely the sake of being different. Instead, it should be relevant to the goal so desired, of value, correct, or meaningfully expressive. In respect to innovation, Amabile notes that it relates to the successful implementation of creative ideas within a business (Amabile 1996, p. 1). An analysis of Amabile’s definition of innovation reveals that the innovation begins by the creativity of a group or individual. Worth noting at this point is the fact that the success of an innovation not only depends on the creative ideas that apply to it but also on other factors and influences external to the organization. The don is also quick to note that creativity goes beyond intelligence and can be applied in any domain (science or art). Creative ideas and innovations can be good or bad (Amabile 1996, p. 1) or may be applied toward negative ends in as much as they may be good. Many business experts appreciate the notion of entrepreneurship being the application of creative destruction. What this basically means is that the entrepreneur pursues an idea and pursues it to make a profit overcoming obstacles to the creative process and therefore destroying existing equilibrium in the market or industry in which they operate. For entrepreneurs, creativity and innovation go together (Ekvall 1987, p. 56). The entrepreneur may apply creativity (and innovation) in developing new product/services, obtaining production resource, delivering products, identifying new markets for business services or products, and coming up with new ways of producing goods and services as noted by (Amabile 1996, p. 3). Problem Being Solved and the Creative Solution One of the major problems that the United Kingdom is grappling with is obesity. According to the BBC, 64% of the adult population in the United Kingdom is obese or overweight (BBC, 2014). Like in the U.S., the number of preventable deaths that are caused by obesity is soaring and seems to be increasing every year. Obesity is associated with diseases and health conditions such as stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. Statistics indicate that between 1980 and 2008, the population of obese around the world increased from 23% to 34% (BBC, 2014). While the rate of increase of obesity cases has generally reduced over the last couple of years, the problem remains a major concern to many nationals as well as the U.S. government. In a bid to contain the obesity problem among children in the U.K., the government introduced new guidelines on the foods that children are to consume while at school and banned the consumption of soft drinks in schools among other measures (BBC, 2014). The government also engaged in a campaign aimed at sensitizing people about the benefits of healthy eating as an effective measure against obesity. These measures have been fruitful to an extent as people seek cheaper alternatives to the fast foods they have long been accustomed to. Some of the alternative foods that most health conscious people nationals consume include processed vegetables, fruits, and less of red meat. The move toward healthy eating has been emphasized by the U.K. government to the extent that McDonald’s had to close about 20 of its branches in the country and several other fast food chains and stores have witnessed a significant reduction in their profits or altogether closed. Opportunity Being Exploited The closure of McDonalds and several of the fast food stores that previously served U.K. nationals living in London has left a huge dent the food market in the city. While people need healthy foods to survive, there are few companies that offer cheap alternatives to the healthy foods that the population of London needs. It is this need that Kentop* Restaurant seeks to fulfil. Instead of offering white meat in the form of chicken which are known to be bred under unhealthy conditions, the restaurant focuses on providing its customers with quail meat among other delicacies. Quail meat is notably cheaper than chicken and fish and has higher nutritional value compared to chicken (Mills, Crawford, Domjan & Faure 1997, p.267). In venturing into a new market, Kentop* Restaurant seeks to exploit the existing need and high demand for healthy foods, and more especially white meat, in London. The restaurant is bound to make huge profits by venturing into the market. The opportunity in this case is the need for healthy foods that has been necessitated by people’s tendency toward healthy eating to solve the problem of obesity. Apart from this, the organization has an opportunity in the market in that it is offering a cheaper solution to the people’s needs in the form of quails, quail eggs, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit juices, and fish. Although many people in the U.K. eat quails, very few restaurants offer it as part of the menu. In other words, the restaurant is offering a new, cheaper and healthier product in the market. How the Creative Culture Could be Created in the Organization A creative culture is useful to every development focused business. However, for the business to benefit from the creativity of its employees and managers, a creative culture should be nurtured within it. An organization such as Kentop* Restaurant can create a creative culture by taking different measures. Worth noting at this point is that the management and leadership of the organization have a major role to play in the development of such a culture. The leaders should be open and receptive to new ideas - factors that will encourage the creative spirit of the employees as noted by Hudson (2013). It is important for employees to be motivated for them to feel the need to act creatively toward solving problems that the organization experiences or in creating products, services, and methods that may propel the company toward greater success (creatingminds.org 2014). Motivation in this respect may be developed by exposing employees to challenges so that they apply their talents personal and explore new possibilities. In addition to being motivated, a creative culture will tend to develop among employees when they are empowered (creatingminds.org 2014). Empowerment may be in the form of having the freedom to make some decisions. Further, employees need to be given time to develop the ideas that they have. The support of leaders, managers and supervisors is also crucial to the empowerment of employees. Without the support of these people, the employees may feel vulnerable and may not get the resources that they need to explore their creativity (creatingminds.org 2014). Further to these, the managers and leaders of the organization should establish and accommodate an environment that allows for experimentation. What this means is that the company should give employees the chance to try new things and reasonably accommodate failures when they car. This also means that the company should be ready and willing to take reasonable risks as a way of fostering creativity. Process and Barriers to Creativity The creative process basically involves the identification of a problem that needs to be solved, idea generation such as through brainstorming, the evaluation of the proposed ideas/solutions and narrowing down to one or two of the best solution, incubation or nurturing of the idea, and finally, implementation of the idea (Isaksen, Dorval& Treffinger 2000, p. 73). There are several factors that can prevent workers from being creative. One barrier to creativity in this respect is lack of trust and motivation (Nazari & Shahdadnejad 2011, p.257). Without trust, people may not constructively participate in a group set-up. Without motivation, individuals may not be willing to contribute their ideas for the benefit of the organization. Yet another barrier to creativity is authoritarian management and conservativism (Nazari & Shahdadnejad 2011, p.257). When management and supervisors oppose change and apply a heavy hand in maintaining the status quo, the workers may not have a chance to contribute their creative thoughts. One other factor that is a barrier to creativity is the non-acceptance and intolerance of criticism in the midst of conflict (Nazari & Shahdadnejad 2011, p.257). Positive criticism and its acceptance is vital to the development of a creative spirit in the organization. Conclusion and Recommendations In conclusion, there is a small difference between creativity and innovation. While creativity involves the production of novel, practical, and helpful ideas in any domain, innovation has a lot to do with the implementation of creative ideas. The obesity situation in the U.K. and the withdrawal of McDonalds from some parts of the U.K. presented Kentop* Restaurant with an opportunity which it duly pursued. The organization should now maintain openness and motivate its workers and avoid authoritarian leadership among other things as a way of fostering a creative culture within the organization. References creatingminds.org 2014, ‘Creating a Creative Climate’, viewed 13 March, 2014 http://creatingminds.org/articles/creative_climate.htm Nazari M. Z. & Shahdadnejad N 2011, ‘Barriers to creativity and innovation in the organization`s management, International Conference on E-business’, Management and Economics, IPEDR, IACSIT Press, Singapore Vol.25, viewed 13 March, 2014 http://www.ipedr.com/vol25/50-ICEME2011-N20026.pdf Ekvall, G. (1987), ‘The climate metaphor in organizational theory’, in: Bass, B.M. and Drenth, P.J.D. (eds), Advances in organizational psychology, 177-190, Beverly Hills: Sage Publications. Ekvall, G. (1999), Creative climate, In Encyclopedia of creativity, Vol. 1 A - H, Runco, M. A. and Pritzker, S. R. (eds.), 403-412 San Diego: Academic Press Place of Publication. Isaksen, S.G., Dorval, K.B., & Treffinger, D.J. (2000). Creative Approaches to Problem Solving: A Framework for Change. Buffalo, New York: Creative Problem Solving - Group Buffalo. Amabile, T. M. January 5, 1996, ‘Creativity and Innovation in Organizations’, Harvard Business School, viewed 13 March, 2014 http://www.evcimen.com/photography/ENTREPRENEURSHIP_files/Creativity%20and%20Innovation%20in%20Organizations.pdf Hudson K. 5 June 2013, ‘How to build a more creative and innovative culture’, viewed 13 March, 2014 http://leadingcompany.smartcompany.com.au/innovation/how-to-build-a-more-creative-and-innovative-culture/201306044334 BBC 3 January 2014. ‘Obesity quadruples to nearly one billion in developing world’. BBC, viewed 13 March, 2014 http://www.bbc.com/news/health-25576400 Mills, A. D, Crawford L. L., Domjan M. & Faure JM (1997). ‘The Behavior of the Japanese or Domestic Quail Coturnix japonica’. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 261–281 Read More