Creative Thinking And Innovation In Business Marketing Assignment (Essay Sample)

CREATIVE THINKING AND INNOVATION IN BUSINESS
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Nature of creativity and innovation
In the last decade, creativity and innovation are proving to be skills that are critical in achieving of the success in businesses in the developed economies. With increasing management problems the need for adopting creative problem solving means has been seen to rise. This is because most of these problems require insights that are more creative so as to get solutions that are suitable. The two i.e. creativity and innovation go hand in hand because without creativity there would be no innovation (Magnusson and Martini, 2008)
Creativity
The ability of an individual to come up with new ideas that are unique is referred to as creativity. This is the force that drives innovation. It incorporates the idea of looking at things from perspectives that are different and there is freedom of being restricted by rules that are either written or unwritten. Creativity is very crucial in business because it’s every business’s objective to keep pace with the current trends and always stay ahead of their competitors (dePeuter and Dyer-Witheford, 2009). One’s business creativity quotient matters a lot and as indicated by Adobe and Forrester Consulting it was found that close to 82% of many companies agree that there is a big connection between the results of a business and creativity in place.
The companies that work with creative teams have often outperformed their many rivals when it comes to leadership that is competitive, growth in revenue and market shares. Fields like design and marketing require a lot of creative thinking however unconventional thinking is also important in almost all aspects of business activities. The key differentiator in the success of individual departments in an organization and strategies that are internal is actually creativity. Creative thinking often produces sales that win and campaigns which increase the appeal of a brand to the end users as well as ensures the fostering of a company culture that is unique and reflects and encourages creativity in each department of the company. Creativity in an organization has to be encouraged from all ends so as to feel its positive impacts on the entire business (dePeuter and Dyer-Witheford, 2009).
A culture of creative thinking has to be built because it’s not just a matter of telling your staff to be creative and expect them to magically come up with ideas that are innovative. As noted by Ben-Yehuda a renowned innovation expert all organization managers should work towards creating an environment that is safe and non judgmental. They should be ready to accept and listen to people’s ideas both from within and outside the company. One of the best ways that one can inspire creative ideas is by consulting with employees that are outside the immediate project team (Droge et al., 2008).
Innovation
For any business to be successful it has to constantly come up with ideas which keep its services, products and operations fresh always. Therefore innovation is the process of making such ideas become reality. The greatest task of any business is to turn an idea into actual services or products that are of benefit to customers. Innovation might have some slight differences in meaning but its al about the act of improving something that was in existence before (Bilton, 2007). It’s actually the evolution of effectiveness, efficiency and convenience.
Companies that embrace this often attain sustainable success. True leaders and innovators are the companies that venture into largest risks, close big gaps and often identify opportunities that are new. This has set such innovators apart from many and almost all the competition in the business world. Innovation is thus critical to any form of success. Close to 90% of executive managers are in agreement with the fact that for their organizations to experience long term success they have to constantly develop new ideas. However, most companies are not doing enough when it comes to fostering innovation (Bilton, 2007).
This problem is related to the fact that many businesses are developing ideas in unproductive means. It’s often hard to identify a need in any company and even harder to invent ways of filling that need when one has been with the organization for many years. One cannot innovate from within a jar and without innovation it’s clear that one awaits the expiration of their business. Strategies that fit well the goals and needs of a business have to be well installed in order for any innovation to be successful (Droge et al., 2008).
Theory and practice of creativity and innovation
Componential theory of creativity and innovation by Amabile (1983) brings out the real meaning and impacts of these two ideas on nay business. This theory identifies characteristics which have to be present for any outputs of creativity to be felt. They include domain relevant skills, intrinsic motivation and creative relevant cognitive processes. Among the three characteristics of this theory intrinsic motivation which is an individual pursuit of tasks is the most critical in creative performance (Magnusson and Martini, 2008).
It’s both a trait and persistent state and therefore creates the need to persist with overcoming obstacles, dealing with difficult tasks, taking risks and introducing new ideas. According to this theory variables that are contextual such as support from leaders affect the creativity things by affecting motivation that is intrinsic. The domain relevant skills are the kind of expertise needed to bring changes that are meaningful to many domains and the creative relevant cognitive processes are the ability that are divergent and also styles that are aimed at decision making.
Impact of creativity and innovation on peoples roles in an organization
Leaders
Leaders are a team of any company’s stakeholder who oversees the day to day running of the business. Is therefore of no doubt that they are better placed to see the need for growth and development of the said businesses. They thus play key roles when it comes to creativity and innovation (Langerak and Hultink, 2008). From where they sit they can easily spot the gaps present in the organization and the urgent need to fill them. One way of filling such gaps is the act of creativity.
Any competent leader has to be creative enough in coming up with ideas that need to be implemented so as to fill the present gap. Once a gap has been identified the leader may come up with ideas either individually or by working in a team together with the employees. The implementation of these creative ideas again lies purely in the hands of the leaders who need to channel funds and resources into the innovative ideas that may originate entirely from them or the subordinate staffs. Leaders’ alias managers are mandated with the role of implementing creative ideas which is the stage of innovation (Baker and Sinkula, 2007). A good idea can only be felt if implemented or else it’s as good as being non existence.
Employees
These are workers in an organizational set up. When it comes to creativity these are the best resources to work with. Employees are the ones on the floor of any organization and thus well placed to identify creative ideas for the growth of the company. But these creative ideas may be null and void if not supported financially so as to be implemented. Therefore the employees need to be engaged in the decision making processes regarding new innovations especially if the creative idea originated from them.
If this is done they feel a sense of recognition and hence belonging. In this way they are motivated to create more ideas and work towards inventing them for the success of business (Langerak and Hultink, 2008). Productive employees are the ones that are very creative and often work towards growing the company and making it more competitive.
Key ingredients to successful innovation
Leadership
Any concept that promotes leaders that show inventive and imaginative qualities which are capable of impacting positively on employees is termed as creative leadership. It’s very vital for any leader to motivate people to work to their peak. Any uninspired employee when it comes to performance and problem solving may not come up with any noble solution to a problem. Leadership should first prioritize engagement of right people at the right time to the right degree of creative working.
This is felt when the leaders chooses to appreciate the role of his employees. This is because currently many innovations thrive on contributions by many people and not just one (Smith and McKinlay, 2009). Good leaders do much when it comes to challenging and inspiring creative work progressively. Innovative leaders combine different styles of leadership so as to influence employees in producing products, services and ideas that are creative.
Creativity
It’s the main ingredient of successful innovation in the sense that without it nothing has to be implemented. All innovations stem from creative thinking. Once ad idea is borne the next step is working towards innovating it. Creativity is therefore the art of coming up with unique business ideas that will make one’s business stand out among the rest. Creativity is therefore the mother of all innovations.
Focus
This is all about the level of seriousness accorded to any creative idea which needs to be implemented. It’s a collaborative thing all the stakeholders involved in ensuring a certain creative idea is accepted by the relevant institution and implemented have to be focused aand put in all the time needed to achieve this (Magnusson and Martini, 2008). Focus is therefore important in the success of any innovative idea.
Invention
It’s the end process of a...