Contrary to typical perception, creativity can be made tangible, measurable and useable. In terms of measurement, benchmarking and enhancement, the first step is to decide on definitions, the second is to decide on methods of measurement and lastly, to monitor each measurement for enhancement.

Definitions of creativity are not elusive. In reality, the quantity of definitions helps the analyst much better outline creativity and refine its management:

a) Coming up with authentic ideas.

Misleading. It can be compellingly argued that all new ideas are really evolutions of previous ideas. Implies a break from the previous.

b) Recombination.

The recombination of existing elements to type something new. Thus creativity is not something completely new but fairly new. Offers a sensible method. For example, Synectics ? the apply of taking two elements and consciously creating new links and elements from them.

c) Novel and useful solutions.

Does not imply a total break with the previous and introduces the concept of applicability. Can be extrapolated to arrive at inventive and crucial pondering. Where inventive pondering is used generate a big idea pool and crucial pondering is used to decrease that pool to feasible ideas. Implies that creativity can be measured according to degrees of novelty. Somebody who expands on Einstein’s Concept of Relativity is not as inventive as Einstein was as the ideas are not as novel.

d) Expressing unusual thought. Encountering the globe in novel ways. Effect substantial modifications in culture (Csikszentmihalyim, 1996).

Implies creativity has sensible, expressive and cognitive elements. Closer to the typical perception of &quotartist.&quot

e) Creating a quantity of ideas, a quantity of varied ideas and a quantity of rare ideas. The most completely &quotscientific&quot definition and sensible on a quantitative level.

f) Creativeness as issue identification and idea generation and innovation as idea selection, development and commercialisation. Provides a good distinction between creativity and innovation. Implies a quantity of differing competencies are concerned and also implies the universality of creativity ? we are inventive on some level as we all resolve problems.

Other definitions, measurement and benchmarking techniques are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativeness &#038 Innovation, which can be bought (along with a Creativeness and Innovation Do it yourself Audit, Great Idea Generator Software and Energy Stage Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com. You can also obtain a normal, free newsletter by getting into your email deal with at this site.

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Kal Bishop MBA, is a management advisor based in London, United kingdom. He has consulted in the visual media and software program industries and for clients this kind of as Toshiba and Transportation for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a quantity of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be attained on http://www.managing-creativity.com