Adapting service-based working culture as the key driver for organisational creativity and innovation

This is an introduction to an article published in Proceedings of IFKAD 2016 - International Forum on Knowledge Asset Dynamics, Dresden, Germany 15-17 June 2016

Sanna Ketonen-Oksi •  M.A. (French language and culture / tourism development)

•  PhD candidate at Tampere University of Technology (Doctoral Programme in Business and Technology Management)

•  Research funding: Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation & The Value Indicator Tool project, funded by Tekes - the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation

Studying creativity and innovation? 1

How to develop creativity and innovation?

What is innovation? What is creativity?

How to develop organisational creativity?

What makes a person creative? What motivates creativity?

PSYCHOLOGY

BUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY

ARTS

SOCIAL SCIENCES

A huge amount of different things apply as we think of creativity - whether studying individual or team related creativity. We should also consider differences based on variables such as personality, intelligence, knowledge, motivation, thinking style, (cultural) environment.

What is creativity? 2

Creativity is most often applied through managing different kinds of methods and processes. In other words, creativity is seen as something we do not have and what needs efforts to grow.

Hence, being creative is about loosening control, that is, doing ”wild, grazy things” and ”letting” creative ideas to pop up.

The reality? 3

Theoretical approach: CAS

the emergence of variables the different contexts where these variables can occur the relationships between the various independent actors

According to Complex Adaptive Systems thinking, the effectiveness and productivity of organisations are strongly dependent on

As thinking of creativity, I started to question my own notions of it. All being considered, I decided to look at creativity through the lenses of complexity, i.e. Following the Complex Adaptive Systems thinking.

“

”Creativity is commonly understood as an ability to create something that is both ORIGINAL and UNEXPECTED

and contextually USEFUL.” (Sternberg, 2006)

Then I was again comparing the generally accepted notions of creativity and innovation…

My view on creativity? 4

METHODS PROCESSES

SKILLS

Like said before, managing creativity often refers to first governing certain (innate) skills and methods then developing into competences and processes. But is it, eventually, the best way to approach creativity?

LEARNING BY DOING

FUN

NEW SOLUTIONS

But then again, having worked in educational field for years, by looking at my own children and thinking of my own creative capabilities, I strongly believe that creativity is most of all about a) learning by doing, b) having fun, c) finding new solutions to emerging problems or situations. See picture in middle: Expressing love does not need words.

Why not think differently? What hinders creativity?

5

Constraints, far too many constraints

•  I can´t

•  It can´t be done / It´s never been done before

•  It is (or might be) embarassing

•  It is out of my competences

•  (mental) lazyness

etc.

FEAR OF FAILURE

FEAR OF CHANGE

FEAR OF INCOMPETENCE

With having far too many contraints affecting on our potential creativity, we miss the importance of everyday-creativity. In order to be creative, we need a certain adaptability to changing and often surprising situations.

Adapting new, service based working cultures

6

Theoretical approach: S-D logic

◉  Refers to value creation as joint and reciprocal processes only

◉  Sees service ecosystems as self-contained and self-adjusting

systems, where the various different actors are connected by

shared institutional arrangements and by mutual value

creating service exchange

The Service-Dominant logic

In my phd studies, I have been digging deeper into the Service-Dominant logic mindset. So, I found it interesting to apply studying creativity in S-D logic perspective as well. Hence, I used it as a framework for thinking in a different way.

“

”Creativity is not an a skill you either have it don´t and which you can develop.”

”Creativity is something that already exists within us, but with all the complexity and

constraints around us, we loose it.”

Again, I found myself comparing the generally accepted notions of creativity and innovation...

FUN EMPATHY

COCREATION

ADAPTABILITY TO CHANGING CONDITIONS

CREATIVITY IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD DEVELOP, BUT INSTEAD, SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ENCOURAGED. IT IS ABOUT NEW WORKING CULTURES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Any questions ? You can find me from Twitter, LinkedIn and AboutMe (@ketonenoksi) Thank you!

Got interested?