Creativity and Innovation Directors, Consultants and Managers

Creativity and Innovation is essential for competitive advantage, yet the role of Creativity and Innovation Manager is often not viewed as essential. Organizations without such a role will simply not perform as competitively as their rivals.

People within and outside of an organization see problems all the time, but rarely are those problems dealt with in time. Tangible negative movements usually force change - shortcomings in expected growth, a fall in share price etc.

Some of the requirements of Creativity and Innovation Directors, Consultants or Managers include:

a) Tracking problems as seen from within and outside the organisation. On all levels, from product development to sales and marketing and customer response, people see problems. Reporting them to line managers is rarely sufficient - line managers usually do not have direct links to the real decision makers.

b) Monitoring competitors and benchmarking in-house creativity and innovation processes and structures. Rivals are continually attempting to gain market share and sporadically, leapfrog the competition. Lack of awareness and preparation can be disastrous.

c) Conducting sustained problem identification and idea generating sessions. Problem identification and idea generation need to be consistent activities to maximise output and train all members of the organization into problem solving proactively.

d) Monitoring group structures to maximise productivity. Teamwork throughout the organization can be optimised with careful consideration of group structures.

e) Ensuring tangible links to decision makers.

f) Ensuring tangible progress of ideas along the innovation pathway.

g) Selecting those ideas that are most likely to succeed, using the S-curve, idea source probabilities and so forth.

h) Monitor and maximise motivation.

i) Assist members of the organization in maximising their creative and innovative output. Some organizations have already started such schemes - one day per week when people are allowed to work on projects they find interesting.

j) Monitor competencies and import knowledge to overcome parochialism and path dependencies.

k) Ensure sustained feedback pathways between departments involved in problem identification, idea generation, idea selection, development and commercialisation exist.

There is much more?.

In conclusion, organizations cannot verbally espouse the creativity and innovation management philosophy without installing creativity and innovation directors, managers and leaders. Not without a loss of competitive advantage.

This topic is 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. You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.

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.

FederalNewsRadio.com

Oracle to pay $1.9B for Taleo, extends SAP rivalry FederalNewsRadio.com Oracle is paying $1.9 billion for Taleo Corp., a company that helps businesses manage their employees. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) By ANICK JESDANUN AP Technology Writer NEW YORK (AP) - Oracle Corp. is escalating its rivalry with German ... Oracle to pay $1.9 billion for personnel software company, extends rivalry ...Washington Post Oracle buying Taleo for $1.9 billion, cloud war brewsReuters Oracle Buys Taleo for $1.9 Billion, Adds Human-Resource ToolSan Francisco Chronicle all 482 news articles »

PetroFrontier announces change in management Sacramento Bee 10, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ - (TSX-V: PFC) - PetroFrontier Corp.("PetroFrontier") announced today that Peter Philipchuk, Vice President, Exploration, has resigned from PetroFrontier. PetroFrontier thanks Mr. Philipchuk for his service and wishes him well ... and more »

WTOP

Oracle to pay $1.9B for Taleo, extends SAP rivalry WTOP Oracle is paying $1.9 billion for Taleo Corp., a company that helps businesses manage their employees. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) By ANICK JESDANUN AP Technology Writer NEW YORK (AP) - Oracle Corp. is escalating its rivalry with German ... Oracle's $1.9bn Deal to Buy TaleoZacks.com Taleo Corp Shares Downgraded to "Neutral" by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Analysts (TLEO)Web Inquirer Oracle to buy Taleo for $1.9bnTimes of India all 103 news articles »

TEXT-S&P revises Apollo Investment Corp outlook to stable Reuters (The following statement was released by the rating agency) -- Apollo Investment Corp. (AIC) has announced changes in management, a reduction in its dividend, and adjustments to its investment strategy. -- In our view, changes to the firm's investment ... Apollo Investments Considers Capital Raise; Unveils Management ShiftsWall Street Journal Company News for February 9, 2012Zacks.com Apollo Investment's CEO Discusses Q3 2012 Results - Earnings Call TranscriptSeeking Alpha Economic Times -Tech24 all 30 news articles »

Fort Worth Star Telegram

AMR bankruptcy: Retirees group files for involvement in case Tulsa World The organization, AMR Retirees Pension Protection Corp., is based in Owasso and includes former members of American Airlines upper management at the Maintenance & Engineering Center in Tulsa and the carrier's maintenance base in Fort Worth. Transport workers union says it will have counterproposal next week for AmericanFort Worth Star Telegram all 24 news articles »

Integrated Asset Management Corp. Announces Results for the First Quarter of ... MarketWatch (press release) TORONTO, ONTARIO, Feb 09, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Integrated Asset Management Corp. ("IAM") /quotes/zigman/18979 CA:IAM -10.00% today announced unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. Review of the 3-Month Period ... and more »

Eaton Vance Closed-end Diversified Equity Income Funds Declare Quarterly ... Sacramento Bee The Funds are managed by Eaton Vance Management, a subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. (NYSE: EV), based in Boston, one of the oldest investment management firms in the United States, with a history dating back to 1924. Eaton Vance and its affiliates ... and more »

State: Revised map led to levee updates Peoria Journal Star He did say, however, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers became more serious about the country's levee system after the hurricane disaster. Osman said the Corps did an Illinois River study in 2002 and 2003, ... and more »

Contract talks continue at Marathon, Tesoro refineries Reuters Workers at the Marathon Petroleum Corp in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, and the Tesoro Corp Mandan, North Dakota, refinery have rejected management proposals on local issues, said USW spokeswoman Lynne Hancock. "They're not preparing for a strike," Hancock ... and more »

Cotter documents under review Canon City Daily Record By RACHEL ALEXANDER alexanderr@ canoncitydailyrecord.com Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment Radiation Program Manager Steve Tarlton, right, speaks Thursday during a public meeting as Cotter Corp. Vice President Mill Operations John ... and more »