Creativity Management - Finish What You Start

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.

Finish what you start

Writers, screenwriters and so forth are known to simultaneously juggle projects or, more often, commence on new projects before completion of previous ones. However, there are solid advantages to completing an endeavour before beginning another:

a) By completing the whole endeavour, competencies relating to all aspects of the endeavour can be utilised subsequently.

b) Moving onto new projects often results in the individual not facing and overcoming blocks that prevented completion of the previous task.

c) Completion often requires various stages of rewriting and editing, which cannot be begun until at least the first draft is complete.

d) A lack of completions doesn't provide the individual with a set if successful previous experiences, thus increasing the probability of decreased confidence.

e) Lack of completion results in stunted learning; all learning benefits from an experience curve, subliminal and subconscious activity, subliminal perception, generative and adaptive learning.

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/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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Kal Bishop 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/

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