Difference between Ideas, Creativity and Innovation - Assignment Example

INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY Name: Course: Tutor: Institution: Date: INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY Question 1: Explain the difference between ideas, creativity and innovation. There is a thin line in the definitions to an idea, creativity and innovation. An idea could be summed by being a collection of thoughts in one’s mind. An idea can be reached during brainstorming sessions or even when an individual thinks by them and can be generated for a specific intention or at times unintentionally. In other instances, an idea could be used to gauge the scope or outline of a specific scenario and even used to indicate an individual’s opinion or belief. According to Marshall, creativity is focused on an individual’s or group’s mind in order to come up with new ideas (Marshall, 2013, 1). In most cases the concepts generated usually end up being things that can be seen, touched or even experienced. To an extent, creativity is an imaginative process that mirrors thought processes by people. It is not genetically passed down through family ties but can be developed when people continuously learning and comprehend things with a rare and exclusive perception. The process of creativity entails unmasking something that was previously hidden where individuals have to brainstorm and think beyond imaginations to come up with preferred solutions. Innovation on the other hand, is when individuals or bodies apply new ideas to create value in a business environment normally in organizations, government institutions or even in the society. It defers slightly from creativity in that when creative ideas are put into use they have to have a positive effect on the outcome. The thing about innovation is that it is purely measureable and by bringing to light unrecognized and unmet demands, it can be used to come up with appropriate solutions and in the long run bring profits to the organizations. Innovations could be done on an incremental pace or even at some cases spontaneously where any kind of improvements done to an institutions products or services. These innovative processes are usually done by managers and supervisors who see potential problems and issues for them to fix and ensure profitability of their firms. Question 2: Name a creativity tool or method and explain its background/history? A notable creativity tool is one referred to as assumption reversal. Developed by Stephen Grossman, it is used to come up with solutions to problems by acting upon assumptions held before time. According to the Business Survival Kit, the assumption reversal allows one to change the aspect of a problem or initial thinking on it. The technique deliberately questions any assumptions about a particular problem in order to bring about new ideas that will eventually see it addressed. In assumption reversal method, ideas are trigged from assumptions which are reversed from the ones that govern or oversee the current situations. How it works is that first the problem being faced needs to be identified clearly. Challenges that are being faced to warrant the creativity method to be implemented need to be laid down, as well as listing down the basic assumptions that have been in the minds of the team. The introduction of the creativity method has seen many organizations realize the full potential of their employees. This is true in the sense that as Grossman came up with the method, Question 3: Name a creative tool or method and explain what are the features and benefits? Give an example to demonstrate the application of creativity linked to innovation. A common creative tool that is used in many organizations is brainstorming. It is the process where two or more individuals come together to discuss pertinent problems that are limiting their performances or that of the company that they work for. Brainstorming could also be warranted by a group of individuals who come together in order to solve a situation affecting the society at large. The brainstorming sessions are normally informal approach to issues and problems that encourages those participating to come up with ideas that in the initial stages seem crazy and absurd. The mere fact that different individuals possess different personalities, it means that ideas generated during the sessions could lead to the improvement of earlier proposals or even see the breaking down of limits held before. According to Mind Tools, brainstorming offers free and open environments that encourage people to participate in the thought process (Mind Tools, 2016, 1). Its benefits are that it does not have many complicated issues hence making it easy to conduct, the costs of conducting the sessions are usually very low compared to the outcome and the best part is that many ideas are generated will in most cases bring about positive change in organizations. An example of where a brainstorming session is during company sessions when they want to come up with ways in which to increase sales of their products. The brainstorming session will help the company in that different factions are represented, each department making known their challenges and ways in which changes can be effected to see that the company moves forward. Question 4: Discuss why/how creativity techniques/methodologies are best used in a group context or individually? Give an example. During brainstorming sessions, it important that creative techniques are used either by groups or individuals to eventually comes up with much desired solutions to cropping problems. In group settings, it is necessary for focus to be put in drafting fresh ideas that will see problems solved without having to deal with the different personalities that are present. Essentially, fresh ideas need to be generated on a high rate and in fewer time frames. How it works is that the group needs to define a problem area where it cannot be expressed in simpler terms in that the problem tends to be too complex for any one person. Without understanding the problem, it could be very hard and gruesome to come up with solutions and eventually lead to frustrations and group conflicts. Creativity techniques can be used to bring out the best in every individual in a group employing positivity in discussions to avoid confrontations during the various sessions. When there is a positive promotion of ideas, it promotes a feel good environment and individuals within the group setting avoid conflicts which are common when it is a discussion or evaluations. The fact that in discussions every member has a right to have his or her own views on a certain subject it is important to put them aside and focus on the real problem affecting the discussion. Since there are always new ideas coming from all members of the group, putting emphasis on the subject of the day frees up team members enabling them to think more creatively instead of recycling old ideas. An example would be during a team building exercise, a team made up of different individuals need to first assess the task at hand, come up with possible solutions eventually sieving through the best and finally selecting the most appropriate choice. The focus that the team sets on the task at hand without having any distractions gives the team a chance to conquer the problem and emerge victorious. Question 5: Can an entrepreneur’s or an organisation’s capacity for creativity and innovation be enhanced? Give an example. Organizations need to implement creativity techniques in the running of their business to ensure that they achieve much desired profits and development. Leading from the front, any entrepreneur that employs these creativity techniques see to it that the rest of the employees follow suit. The creativity of an entrepreneur can definitely be enhanced in that every human being is born with some level of creativity in that never dies. Basically creativity in an entrepreneur will be brought by the need to come up with solutions to a certain problem facing his or her business. The entrepreneur’s ability to innovate can easily be enhance but through different aspects. Personal experiences or those dealt with by the company at most times help shape up innovation projects. As an entrepreneur, innovative ideas are fuelled by the need to bypass problems faced in the past. Aiming at succeeding in future endeavours, the owner of the business can look at the mistakes done in the past and convene meetings with involved stakeholders. Having such interactions definitely ensures that the organization overcomes its problems and continue being profitable. An example of how an organization can enhance its ability to innovate and come up with creative ideas is by once in a while taking its employees out of their working spaces for a team building exercise. This informal setup creates an environment whereby organizational problems can be discussed in a relaxed manner bringing out the best of every individual since they are more relaxed. When employees are taken away from their working spaces but within their same working groups, it is easier for them to take a step back reflecting on how far they have come, ideally appreciating the efforts they have being putting in their projects. As an employer on the other hand, it is important to acknowledge and reward efforts by the employees which at the end of the day boosts morale within departments realising organization success. References Marshall, D., 2013. There's A Critical Difference Between Creativity And Innovation. [Online] Available at: http://www.businessinsider.com.au/difference-between-creativity-and-innovation-2013-4 Minds Tools, 2016. Brainstorming: Generating Many Radical, Creative Ideas. [Online] Available at https://www.mindtools.com/brainstm.html Read More