This CQ Dossier will review the existing psychological research on how innovation and innovative thinking is defined, its relation to creativity, and how it impacts success in an organizational context.
As a manager, it is largely your responsibility to cultivate an environment where innovative ideas can be generated – and evaluated for their usefulness. Management decisions and policies can have a significant impact on how inhibited employees feel, and how free they are to express new ideas that are challenging and potentially valuable. A great deal of research exists today regarding how creativity and innovation can be boosted by management within an organization. In this Evidence-Based Learning Management Team (EBMLT), the latest research on the subject will be reviewed. Below is a broad introduction to some of the topics that will be covered.
In order for a work team to thrive and develop innovative, paradigm-challenging ideas, creativity must be properly fostered. Working towards that requires that you, as a manager, recognize that creative output is inherently risky and vulnerable – especially when the pressure is high and the need for a useful solution is paramount (Paulus, 2000).
