BMA5000 Creativity for Business
Abstract
Innovation at every level of a company increases the likelihood that it will be able to maintain or even increase its competitive advantage. To be innovative, a company must listen carefully to its workers and act on their suggestions. The findings show that creative thinking is often used in research with the aim of overall organisation. Almost all of the studies that have looked at creativity have focused on its component parts. When it comes to innovation on the job, this research stresses the significance of teamwork. Employees' perspectives on creativity and their willingness to back innovative initiatives at work are the focus of this study.
This research study aims to uncover the innovation potential that exists at every level of the organisation. Based on the results, it's possible that everyone can find a way to express their creativity at work. Despite the fact that most of the organization's tasks need the knowledge and imagination of several people, the creative process—and particularly its collaborative nature—is sometimes underappreciated. Furthermore, this research demonstrates the employee-driven approach to fostering group innovation at work.
Table of Contents
The contribution of creativity to innovation and competitive edge
Factors Affecting Workplace Creativity
Impact of creativity on employee performance and organizational success
Introduction
Innovation at every level of a company increases the likelihood that it will be able to maintain or even increase its competitive advantage. Organisational creativity is the process by which a collection of people operating inside a complicated social structure come up with a novel and practical product, concept, technique, service, or process. Making a new product is an example of this kind of innovation. In today's free market, any business, no matter how little, has to be prepared to compete. In order to stay in business, many companies need to come up with new and exciting items. The survey goes on to say that in today's cutthroat business environment, technical progress is key to survival. Creativity is the starting point for innovation since it generates new ideas (Tang et al., 2018). The seed of innovation is a spark of creativity. Finding answers to problems that crop up in the corporate world requires the application of creative thinking.
Workers with this competence are able to discover possibilities that might better their condition, even when things are tough. On top of that, it gives them a new angle from which to examine the challenges they're encountering. Research like these might help shed light on why it's critical for companies to foster an inventive culture and how important creativity is for employees to feel comfortable expressing their ideas on the job. Businesses in today's world have access to more chances and greater rewards thanks to innovations. What we mean when we say "innovation" is the process of carrying out a series of actions that, when combined with previously obtained knowledge, create something of value for the people who use it. In order to come up with new ideas, people often work in groups to generate and apply relevant knowledge.
To be creative, a company has to do three things: produce knowledge, make it easy for people to communicate what they have learnt, and last, apply that information. Businesses with imagination utilise the data they have in novel ways. The decision-maker may benefit from considering other viewpoints and enhancing their understanding of the situation by using their creative faculties throughout the decision-making process. Critical skills include the capacity to think of novel solutions that might really benefit other people and the imagination to creatively combine or connect concepts in novel ways (Sawyer and Henriksen, 2024). These two skills are critical. In order to maintain or even increase its competitive edge, a company's level of innovation is directly proportionate to it. Consideration of staff opinions and suggestions is crucial for companies in this sector. Unfortunately, many companies miss out on a great deal of innovation opportunity because they put all their faith in their R&D teams to generate new and valuable ideas.
Defining creativity
To be creative is to have an inclination to come up with or think of potential solutions to problems, ways of interacting with others, and things to enjoy oneself and others. Creativity is the capacity to come up with something fresh, whether it's a creative idea for a solution to a problem, a tool to help solve the problem, or something artistic all by itself. The use of creative thinking is the key to generating fresh and original company strategy. Successful entrepreneurs know that being efficient is key to staying ahead of the competition. This may be accomplished by exploring untapped markets and coming up with fresh concepts (Tang et al., 2018). Companies risk losing customers and revenue if their workers don't come up with fresh ideas for goods, processes, and strategies every day. The word describes the method by which an individual or a small group of people come up with novel and useful ideas by working together. Innovative and beneficial to a company, creative goods, services, ideas, and processes are all part of creativity.
Literature review
Over the course of the last two decades, there has been a growth of creativity studies, which may reflect a change in attitude among professional academics and industry individuals. The research on creativity has advanced in terms of the variety of topics that have been investigated and the depth of the research. The tracing of the development of creativity research is the purpose of this review of the relevant literature.
The Creation of New Knowledge
The capacity to come up with original ideas is what we mean when we talk about creativity. Therefore, it is essential to do research on the process by which ideas are formed. In order for an organisation to be successful in its innovation process, creative thinking is essential. One of the most important factors that determines the success and longevity of a business is its ability to innovate and provide new data continually. Creativity is the first step in the innovation process, which is followed by the realisation of new ideas that are tailored to the requirements of the company. Intangible assets and creative processes that are one-of-a-kind and impossible to copy are the components that comprise knowledge, which is the most valuable asset that any business has. It is a widely held perception that creativity is only required in highly specialised professions such as research and development, which is one of the most significant barriers to creativity in the workplace (Del Monte and Pennacchio, 2020).
Organisations thrive when new information is generated often, shared extensively, and integrated into new products quickly. Every group, department, manager, and employee has a responsibility to foster an environment that is conducive to new ideas and approaches. A knowledge-creating organisation exemplifies these traits, with its core competency being continuous innovation. The ability to think creatively is fundamental in every facet of a company. The creative process encompasses much more than only the introduction of novel goods, services, and methods. The success or failure of a knowledge corporation is dependent on its ability to produce the intellectual capital needed to improve its core competencies and develop unique products. Since it is expected of all employees to create new information, every employee in a knowledge-producing company is a knowledge worker (Tang et al., 2018). Making one's own knowledge accessible to others is the foundation of every knowledge-creating endeavour. This occurs continuously across the whole company.
The contribution of creativity to innovation and competitive edge
As per Ferreira et al. (2020) businesses may stand out in the market and create one-of-a-kind products and services by fostering an environment that encourages creative thinking. When compared to individual creativity, organisational creativity considers the bigger picture. There is a direct relationship between an organization's capacity for growth and development and the level of creativity and invention shown by its employees. People in a complex social system engage in organisational creativity when they work together to create something new and useful from scratch. This might be a product, service, technique, or process. A constructivist perspective on knowledge has brought attention to the role of social practices and interaction in the creation and emergence of new knowledge. This approach places a focus on the intraorganizational processes that generate new knowledge. It has been believed that this method has greatly aided in the expansion of human understanding (Nasifoglu Elidemir et al., 2020).
According to Nasifoglu et al. (2020), in today’s competitive environment, lack of innovation and creativity is the major challenge that Enterprises face. In such a scenario, innovative behaviour and creativity as a mediator in order to have high-performance work practices on sustainable competitive advantage gain allocated by the business organisation in an effective manner. Hiring of managers of professionals that are equally oriented, the needs and creative ability of their employees and are experienced can cultivate the organisation to create a culture that has an expression of creativity even in the time of hindrance.
Businesses rely on innovation to adapt their products, procedures, and organisational structures to match the demands of consumers in today's fast-paced market. As said before, having ideas is a huge plus since they inspire innovation, which leads to better and cheaper goods. Employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention are all positively impacted by an environment that encourages innovation. To succeed in business and as an entrepreneur, one need to be creative and have the ability to think up fresh ideas. To be relevant over the long run, companies need to foster an environment that encourages creativity and new ideas. These qualities are the fuel that keeps progressing (Ferreira et al., 2020).
Factors Affecting Workplace Creativity
The level of originality that workers produce could be affected by several things. The organization's structure, procedures, resources, and surrounding environment are all examples of such elements. Resources, culture, and administrative procedures are a few other organisational aspects that impact workers' inventiveness. It is widely believed that creativity does not come from outside forces like technology, employment, schools, cultures, or economies, but rather from inside sources like intrinsic drive, values, genes, souls, minds, cognitive abilities, and personalities. According to Hughes et al. (2018) in organization's creative success is strongly correlated with the values, vision, and leadership style of its executives. When leaders foster an environment that values innovation and equips their people with the resources they need to succeed, amazing things can happen (Nasifoglu Elidemir et al., 2020).
According to Füzi et al. (2022), there is a relationship between workspace design and relation to creativity and innovation. This means that physical and virtual work environment is often catered by collaboration, inspiration, thinking, sharing and exploration. In such a case creation of a co-working space that is flexible, has accountable research and development activities and also Club type environment makes collaborative and idea sharing process in a very easy manner. Idea generation machine and its functioning cannot always be related to desk book and a breakthrough in communication practices is required. In such a scenario, the co-working spaces could be created by the companies in order to solve the problem about effective communication.
Having a work atmosphere that values creativity and innovation increases the chances of workers solving problems in unique ways and coming up with new ideas for goods and services. When employees have confidence in their position, they are more likely to speak out and provide recommendations. Some of the traits shared by high-performing teams include regular and open lines of communication, an emphasis on building rapport and trust, and competent dispute resolution (Hughes et al., 2018). Creating an atmosphere that fosters innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills is believed to have a direct association with these teams' performance and production. But it may be tough to persuade individuals to think beyond the box more than they already do. Leadership, motivation, optimism, and personal qualities are the four pillars around which this conversation rests.
Impact of creativity on employee performance and organizational success
In light of the fact that creativity acts as the primary impetus for innovation inside an organisation, it has the potential to successfully contribute to the expansion of the business. As a result of the favourable benefits that creativity has on innovation, development, and competitiveness, the majority of businesses also make significant investments in research endeavours that investigate methods to encourage creativity in the workplace. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that the past knowledge, experience, and abilities of the workers are considered to be quite important in determining their performance (Ismail et al., 2019). If an employee is lacking in any one of these three characteristics, it is quite probable that they will have low performance overall. For this precise reason, it is essential to provide training to workers who are being promoted to responsibilities that carry a greater level of responsibility. There is a significant relationship between the organisational structure of a firm and the level of productivity that that company's workers achieve (Shafi et al., 2020).
The method in which employees interact with one another, the flow of information across the organisation, and the degree to which individuals are allowed to function freely are all aspects that may be impacted by the structure of an organisation. Efforts should be made by businesses to enhance stimulants and eliminate barriers in order to cultivate an environment that supports organisational innovation and maintains the creative capacity of people (Shafi et al., 2020). A variety of different elements have the potential to influence the degree of originality that is produced by workers. It is the responsibility of leaders to demonstrate exemplary behaviour, inspire followers to think creatively, and provide direction as they go forward in order to ensure that followers are able to achieve the shared objectives and vision of the organisation (Ismail et al., 2019). Every one of these things is connected to the competencies that are required for efficient innovation management.
According to Füzi et al. (2022), there is a relationship between workspace design and relation to creativity and innovation. This means that physical and virtual work environment is often catered by collaboration, inspiration, thinking, sharing and exploration. In such a case creation of a co-working space that is flexible, has accountable research and development activities and also Club type environment makes collaborative and idea sharing process in a very easy manner. Idea generation machine and its functioning cannot always be related to desk book and a breakthrough in communication practices is required. In such a scenario, the co-working spaces could be created by the companies in order to solve the problem about effective communication.
Data analysis
Research method
There are two types of research methods including primary and secondary, moreover, mixed research is where both primary and secondary sources are used to collect data. The researcher will use interview to collect information from one interviewee. The participant will be selected using random sampling method. The interview will be virtual and the person was chosen is an employee in a MNC better suitable to answer the questions.
Data Analysis
The term "data analysis" refers to the steps taken to explain, illustrate, summarise, and assess data via the systematic use of statistical and/or logical methods. There are several methods of data analysis, but in this study the researcher will use thematic analysis. Themes will be created based on literature and interview.
Interview
1. What does creativity mean according to you?
To make something out of nothing, one must use creative thinking. Being creative is characterised by all of the following traits: seeing things from a new angle, seeing patterns where none existed before, making connections where none existed before, and developing original solutions to problems. In my view, creativity is the capacity to use one's imagination to generate new ideas for existing problems or approaches to existing tasks. One may be able to solve difficulties in novel ways and accomplish things in interesting new ways because of their creative ability (Imran et al., 2018). When an individual thinks creatively, they might find other ways of looking at things. Also, it's a style of life that values imagination and seeking out novel connections between seemingly unrelated concepts. One has to see life as a quest to discover and convey the extraordinary in the ordinary if you want to be creative. Being creative at work entails bringing fresh ideas to the table and seeing them through to fruition. Innovative managers and employees are continuously on the lookout for fresh approaches to old problems. People are more inclined to try out novel approaches at work because of this, which could benefit the company as a whole.
2. Why, in your opinion, does creativity matter for a company?
Workers that are able to think outside the box are more likely to come up with fresh, innovative solutions to problems when faced with new obstacles. One of the things that helps a company run more efficiently is having employees that are continually thinking of new methods to solve problems. Rejecting an employee's suggestion or idea at a brainstorming session or by simply saying "no" sends the opposite message than what you want to hear. Try restating the question in a manner that elicits a positive response. Making it harder for workers to think creatively and generate new, implementable ideas is a certain method to limit creativity in the workplace. When you go into anything with the assumption that it won't work, you quickly write it off. In order to solve problems in fresh ways and overcome obstacles in old ones, businesses rely heavily on the creative capacities of their employees. Businesses get an advantage over their rivals and see a rise in productivity as a consequence.
3. Could you provide instances of creativity within organisations?
For instance, a company may examine an existing product or service using the SCAMPER method, and then utilise the results to recommend enhancements or new features. One strategy to get your project teams to think beyond the box is to have them participate in an activity that challenges their creativity. Like many other businesses, my own has a number of innovative practices. We will go over some of the steps involved in brainstorming potential solutions to issues and ways to improve processes, as well as some of the tools, strategies, and tactics that may be used to test out different approaches and see what works best to boost output or enhance results. My company's innovation is driven by a desire to create new goods and services that meet the needs of our customers and the business as a whole.
Data analysis
Theme 1: Importance of creativity in organisational context
Inspiring others to collaborate via creative means is a potent strategy. Organisations promote teamwork from the very beginning to the very end of the creative process. It is critical for companies to foster a learning culture among their staff if they want to stay competitive in the dynamic global business landscape. Businesses rely on the creative thinking of its workers and supervisors to remain competitive and boost productivity (Tang et al., 2017). Even if AI and ML are increasing the capabilities of automation, companies are still seeking creative minds. Giving employees more chances to be creative on the job has multiple benefits, including raising morale, which in turn increases productivity, fosters stronger team relationships, and recognises employees who think outside the box (Shafique et al., 2020).
Theme 2: Influence of creativity on organisational performance
One thing that sets businesses apart from one another is their innovative ideas. Businesses ultimately benefit from this since it gives them a leg up in the market. Without the capacity to think creatively and imaginatively, businesses would all be following the same formula when it comes to marketing, product creation, and customer service. Improving one's capacity for creative thinking might be beneficial for almost every industry (Tang et al., 2017). Creative thinking inside organisations has led to a variety of tangible outcomes. Innovating goods and processes, higher levels of enthusiasm and teamwork, happier employees, more efficient operations, a sharper emphasis on happy customers, and better strategic thinking across the board are all results.
Theme 3: Examples and applications of creativity in organisations
Any company's chances of success greatly increase when they innovate. The value of creativity, which includes adaptability and increased profitability, is becoming clearer every day. If an individual wants to know how to put the virtue of creativity into practice, go no further than the blogs that commend it. A marketing campaign promoting a new car model is one example (Ibrahim and Daniel, 2019). As an example of a strategy that is lacking in innovation, consider marketing tactics like print or banner ads. The utilisation of an engaging and amusing short film is one kind of innovative car advertising. The automobile could end up having a major role in a toy action film. In the corporate world, originality and creativity may be shown in several ways (Shafi et al., 2020). The following samples are for your review: Coming up with brand-new offerings: Creative problem-solving in response to client needs is rewarded and promoted in certain workplaces.
Findings
Companies are encouraging staff to think creatively to increase revenue and market share, according to interviews and literature reviews. Group dynamics and activities are downplayed in favour of individual innovation in works on organisational creativity (Ismail et al., 2019). When people get together socially, they could find out things about each other and the world that no one would have thought of on their alone (Ogbeibu et al., 2018). Organisations promote teamwork from the very beginning to the very end of the creative process. Collaborative creativity describes this. Instead of concentrating on the structural and social factors that foster an atmosphere conducive to creativity all the time, this view emphasises the random sequence of events that triggers epiphanies. On top of that, this concept shifts the emphasis from individual brilliance to the value of social interactions as the only source of best moments. Leadership style, environment, culture, resources, and systems are the five main elements that influence organisational creativity. The value of creativity, which includes adaptability and increased profitability, is becoming clearer every day. The literature review provides a concise summary of these aspects (Shafi et al., 2020).
Conclusion
In the event that an organisation attempts to innovate by concentrating on a single aspect, it will never be able to tap into the full creative potential of its workers, and those individuals will have little financial or emotional stake in the success of the ideas. It was necessary for the case firm to be inventive in order to maintain its existence in the face of the growing degree of competition. The capacity to think creatively is useful in any professional path since it transcends typical job functions and sectors. This includes the ability to conceive of new ideas. According to the findings of this survey, employees generally have a positive attitude towards participating in creative activities. In contrast, creativity in the workplace is not something that simply happens; rather, it is something that needs consistent encouragement and support. When teams actively support a culture of creativity, there is a possibility that they may see an increase in creativity, productivity, and competitiveness.
Teams that foster and support the creative endeavours of their employees have a greater chance of achieving success in the face of challenges and coming up with a variety of inventive solutions. Having said that, uniqueness and imagination are essential components in the process of creating a marketing campaign visually attractive and engaging for customers. An innovative company plan that either challenges the status quo or enters a completely uncharted sector requires not only the capacity to think creatively but also the willingness to take calculated risks. Other requirements include the ability to think beyond the box. To be a creative leader or even simply to be an inspired colleague, one must create time for creativity on a daily basis and build an attitude of curiosity, experimentation, and risk-taking. This is necessary in order to achieve one of these three goals. With this method, not only will one would be able to achieve all of the other goals, but will also be able to leave a positive impression at work and on the team.
References
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