Using Individual Creativity to Improve the Performance of large Organisations

Abstract

This study details a process that uses a well defined problem to elicit potential solutions from people working in the organisation who have knowledge of the problem area. The results are compared with two other projects that used a similar process and another project that used the methodology associated with Appreciative Inquiry. The results show that for the three projects that used a similar process, the number of ideas generated per person ranged between 1.33 and 1.53. Whereas for the project that used Appreciative Inquiry the number of ideas generated per person was 2.3. The average value of the savings from the ideas of each project ranged between £3.44 and £5.4K These studies provide support for the theory that all people are creative problem-solvers given the opportunity to become active participants (Kirton 2003). Furthermore to make use of this creativity in an organisation, managers have to provide a setting that will support and motivate individuals to focus their potential on a target of organisationl importance. To gain maximum effect, the problem needs careful definition and the size of the problem-solving group as large as individual capability allows.