Business Innovation ? Improvisation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Improvisation

One of the most valuable fields of experience and one that creativity and innovation leaders should engage in ? especially business leaders - is improvisation. Many of the skills of improvisation apply directly to idea generation:

a) Acceptance ? learning to say YES as opposed to NO.

b) Accepting the unoriginal as valid.

c) Accepting that the first idea ? that is, without critical evaluation, is usually a good idea. Not concealing inappropriate ideas.

d) Accepting that the innermost self will be revealed.

e) Understanding the difference between real self and that self which is presented to the world. Through masks, role play and trance.

These and other 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.

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop MBA, 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/

---

Human Resource Employee Risk Profile - Management Risks Explained

Human Resource Employee Risk ProfileIs your business at risk? Do... Read More

Teaching Large Companies To Think Like The Little Guys

Q: I am an executive at a large company and... Read More

Its Not Always What You Say

A major source of communication breakdowns is incongruence between the... Read More

4 Tips on How to Avoid Communication Lines Breakdown

For example, in a small, two-person company, there is often... Read More

Business Innovation ? the Value of Work Processes

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Problem-Solving Success Tip: Test Your Assumptions About Everything

Test your assumptions about everything.Assumptions have a way of creeping... Read More

Look Good on Voice Mail

Your use of voice mail tells others a lot about... Read More

Outsourced Learning: Are You Ready for Learning BPO?

As the business world enters a period of hyper-competitiveness, every... Read More

Sharing the Reins: 10 Reasons To Sell Your Company To Your Employees

In 1987 I sold my business, South Mountain Company, to... Read More

Compensation and Six Sigma Black Belts

One of the more ambiguous elements of a Six Sigma... Read More

How to Build Your Business and Still Take Time Off

We all know people who are like human dynamos. They... Read More

Dont Hire Squirrels to be Your Top Dogs

Bad hiring decisions cost organizations, both in dollars and lost... Read More

Manage or Lead ? Why the Difference Matters and What to Do About That Difference

Many books have been written about managing people, and an... Read More

Print Buying Consultant

Ten Money Saving Tips for Print ManagersDespite their stated desire... Read More

Real Costs in Distribution and What it Means To Your Company

Ever feel that all the lawyers in thh Country need... Read More

Terrible Meetings - Ten Ways to Spot Them!

Sometimes, better than giving advice about how to run things... Read More

Satisfied Employees, A Powerful Marketing Strategy

Even in today's still uncertain economic times, there are companies... Read More

Create Your Dashboard for Success

Driving down the road our eyes frequently scan the vital... Read More

Focus On the Prize

People talk to me about making personal and professional changes... Read More

How to Dodge Distribution Difficulties

It happened again. I ran into an old friend while... Read More

Leadership in Troubled Times

Leadership in Troubled Times The... Read More

Joint Accountability: Another Key for Your Effectiveness

I once was part of a group of management professors... Read More

HRM: Contributing to Well-being or Ill-being at Work?

If you were to take the people out of an... Read More

Developing Your Management Style

One thing a lot of us don't do in sales... Read More

Faith is the LIFE-blood of Your ACTIONS before the Benefit -

Nothing has changed. Your ancestors lived by faith. Some planted... Read More

Take Your Firm to the Next Level

So you did such a good job in 2003 at... Read More

Lawyers With 2 Hands And Everything Else

I heard this back a few years ago. The boss... Read More

Give Yourself a Boss? Day Gift

Become a better boss and reap the benefitsAnother interesting study... Read More

One Bad Apple

One Bad Apple I know what... Read More

Why Employee Satisfaction Surveys And Employee Exit Surveys Make Good Sense

In a competitive world with the need for businesses to... Read More

How To Write Commercial Collections Letters

It is sometimes valuable to bring the sales manager into... Read More

Difficult Staff - It Pays To Get To Know Them Better

It's very easy for a business owner or manager to... Read More

Tap Employee Passion For Business Success

Meriwether Lewis set the stage for the Corps of Discovery's... Read More