Innovation Management - Producing Great Products, Motivation

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.

Producing Great Products, Motivation

Two of the most critical aspects of motivation include:

a) Intrinsic motivation - when individuals are motivated to complete a task for its own sake rather than in order to fulfil an ulterior motive.

b) Self-determination - if individuals feel that they are in control of their own destiny, then intrinsic motivation increases.

Additionally, ideas always require a period of tinkering, experimentation, prototyping and so forth before they are ready to be isolated as the best ideas and run through the commercialisation process (the development phase).

Further still, one of the largest blocks that prevents successful idea generation let alone selection, development and commercialisation is lack of finance and resources.

From this and other information, it follows that the probability of producing the flow of great products, is to allow individuals to determine their own projects, allow them periods of tinkering and give them the resources to do it.

Of course there is more to it than that, but you get the idea.

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/