Toward a typology of organizational creativity

• Main Author: TAN, Gilbert
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2019
• Subjects: Organizational Creativity; Innovation Management; Organizational Behavior and Theory
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/6691; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/7691/viewcontent/1145_pvoa.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Both researchers and practitioners realize the importance of organizational creativity as a source of competitive advantage and long-term organizational success. Although, research on organizational creativity abounds, many researchers and practitioners view organizational creativity as a unidimensional construct. This narrow view of creativity limit our understanding on how organizations generate creative ideas to compete in the market. This paper examines organizational creativity using a two-by-two matrix along 2 dimensions: Thinking Approach (Analytical versus Intuitive) and Problem Type (Bounded versus Unbounded). According to the framework, there are four types of organizational creativity: (1) Imaginative Creativity (application of intuitive approach to unbounded problem); (2) Improvisational Creativity (application of intuitive approach to bounded problem); (3) Incremental Creativity (application of analytical approach to bounded problem); and (4) Integrative Creativity (application of analytical approach to unbounded problem). Examples of the four types of creativity in organizations are discussed. The paper also offers suggestions for future research.