Creativity: Concept and Process
- Concept of Creativity
- Definition: Creativity is the ability to generate new, original, and useful ideas or solutions to problems.
- Creativity is seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.” – Albert Einstein
- Types of Creativity
|
Type |
Description |
|
Deliberate Creativity |
Intentional, logical (e.g., planning a new project) |
|
Spontaneous Creativity |
Sudden insight (e.g., eureka moments) |
|
Artistic Creativity |
Related to art, design, expression |
|
Scientific/Technical Creativity |
Related to innovation, invention, problem-solving |
3. The Creative Process (5 Stages)
📚 Popular model by Graham Wallas (1926)
|
Stage |
Description |
|
1. Preparation |
Gathering information, identifying the problem |
|
2. Incubation |
Subconscious processing; idea rests in the mind |
|
3. Illumination |
Sudden insight or “Aha!” moment |
|
4. Evaluation |
Critically analyzing and testing the idea |
|
5. Implementation |
Applying or executing the creative idea in real life |
- Techniques to Enhance Creativity
|
Technique |
Description/Use |
|
Brainstorming |
Generating multiple ideas without judgment |
|
Mind Mapping |
Visualizing ideas and their connections |
|
Lateral Thinking |
Thinking differently; coined by Edward de Bono |
|
SCAMPER Technique |
Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other use, Eliminate, Rearrange |
|
Role Playing |
Looking at problems from different perspectives |
|
Six Thinking Hats |
Creative problem-solving by wearing different ‘thinking’ roles (Edward de Bono) |
Organizational Development (OD) Interventions
Organizational Development (OD) is a planned, long-term effort led by top management to improve an organization’s effectiveness and health through changes in strategies, structures, and processes using behavioral science knowledge.
- Interpersonal Interventions
Focus on improving communication, relationships, and interpersonal skills between individuals.
Key Techniques:
|
Technique |
Description |
|
T-Groups (Training Groups) |
Small unstructured groups that increase self-awareness and sensitivity to others. |
|
Process Consultation |
External expert helps individuals understand and improve interpersonal processes. |
|
Feedback (360°) |
Receiving feedback from peers, subordinates, and supervisors to identify strengths/weaknesses. |
|
Counseling/Coaching |
One-on-one support to address individual performance or behavioral issues. |
- Team Interventions
Focus on improving the functioning of teams or workgroups.
🔷 Key Techniques:
|
Technique |
Description |
|
Team Building |
Activities that build trust, communication, and cooperation. |
|
Role Analysis Technique (RAT) |
Clarifies roles and responsibilities within a team. |
|
Appreciative Inquiry |
Focuses on identifying and building upon team strengths. |
|
Conflict Resolution |
Intervening to resolve interpersonal/team conflicts constructively. |
- Structural Interventions
Target the design of the organization: hierarchy, roles, workflows, and policies.
🔷 Key Techniques:
|
Technique |
Description |
|
Job Redesign/Enrichment |
Altering tasks to make them more meaningful and motivating. |
|
Decentralization |
Shifting decision-making to lower levels of the hierarchy. |
|
Work Design |
Aligning jobs with organizational needs and employee skills. |
|
Total Quality Management (TQM) |
Quality-driven structural improvement across departments. |
- Comprehensive Interventions
Address the organization as a whole; large-scale changes involving structure, process, and people.
🔷 Key Techniques:
|
Technique |
Description |
|
Survey Feedback |
Organization-wide data collection to diagnose and develop action plans. |
|
Strategic Management Interventions |
Aligning strategy, structure, and systems. |
|
Organizational Transformation |
Large-scale cultural and structural changes. |
|
Learning Organization Development |
Creating systems that promote learning and adaptability. |
Summary Table:
|
Type of OD Intervention |
Focus Area |
Key Methods/Tools |
|
Interpersonal |
Individual relationships |
T-groups, feedback, coaching |
|
Team |
Group dynamics |
Team building, role analysis |
|
Structural |
Organizational design |
Job redesign, decentralization |
|
Comprehensive |
Whole organization |
Survey feedback, strategic planning |
🎯 Quick MCQ-style Facts:
- T-group is an example of ➤ Interpersonal intervention
- Job enrichment belongs to ➤ Structural intervention
- Survey feedback method is used in ➤ Comprehensive OD interventions
- Team building is a ➤ Team intervention
