Innovation Essay and Reflective Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Innovation and Reflective Report - Essay Example The management of creativity is highly problematic. As may be inferred from Trott (2005), among others, the concepts of management and creativity appears to be antithetical with the notion of managing creativity' emerging as something of a paradox. Expounding upon this, Burns and Stalker (1961) emphasise that creativity is fundamentally founded upon freedom while management is premised upon control with the implication being that the management of innovation/creativity is synonymous with the control of freedom. Even while conceding to the somewhat oxymoronic character of the stated, the fact remains that within the organisational setting creativity has to be directed and managed in order to avoid its descent into purposelessness. Management is fundamental to the direction, as opposed to control, of creativity. Generic definitions of creativity, as proposed by Drazin et al. (1999:287) maintain it "as the process of engagement in creative acts, regardless of whether the resultant outcomes are novel, useful, or creative." This definition, even though it is a valid and legitimate descriptor of creativity, is indicative of a form of creativity and innovation which organisations strive to avoid. Within the organisational context, and as may be inferred from several researchers, creativity must be novel, useful and innovative (Singer and Adkins, 1984; Amabile, 1996; Drazin et al., 1999; Kennedy, 2001). Accordingly, the management of creativity