This (1)post aims to analyze the difference between creativity and innovation with the help
of several academic studies on definitions, types, components and processes which gave
the right orientation in the difference between these two elements. There are more than 60
definitions of creativity in the psychological literature (Taylor, 1988), depending on the type of sector, for example, product, process or personal type. The literature also defines creativity as the generation of novel and useful ideas (Amabile, 1996; West, 2002). Moreover, it is a process of developing and expressing those novel ideas in solving problems and satisfying needs. Mostly, creativity is a process which produces an innovation. (Harvard Business Review 2003). The managers have influence three most matter components of creativity, which are: Expertise, then a person knows the technical, procedural and
intellectual field. Creative-thinking skills, a function, which helps to approach problems and the last one is Motivation, when a person gets it in two different forms, as a material (bonuses, promotions) or in passion/interest way, this type of motivation has more impacts on personal creativity. (Amabile 1998). Just as important, employees who have the possibility in creativity are more likely to come
up with new ideas, that would help the organization to grow and complete. Innovation
defined as “the process of bringing any new, problem-solving idea into use... Innovation is the generation acceptance and implementation of new
ideas, processes, products or services.‘’ (Kanter 1983) There are two different types of innovation: incremental and radical.
Incremental means to take over existing forms or technologies and make them more innovated while radical is
something completely new. (Harvard Business Review 2003). The Innovation Process begins with idea generation,
when a person develops an accurate and in-depth understanding-insight, second, Development- incubating the idea to the point, the last one is
Commercialization- the customer is making the final decision. Creativity is an essential
element towards the innovation process; it develops a leading idea and helps to move it forward. (Harward Business Review 2003). The table will be presented below to demonstrate findings on difference between Creativity and Innovation.
the right orientation in the difference between these two elements. There are more than 60
definitions of creativity in the psychological literature (Taylor, 1988), depending on the type of sector, for example, product, process or personal type. The literature also defines creativity as the generation of novel and useful ideas (Amabile, 1996; West, 2002). Moreover, it is a process of developing and expressing those novel ideas in solving problems and satisfying needs. Mostly, creativity is a process which produces an innovation. (Harvard Business Review 2003). The managers have influence three most matter components of creativity, which are: Expertise, then a person knows the technical, procedural and
intellectual field. Creative-thinking skills, a function, which helps to approach problems and the last one is Motivation, when a person gets it in two different forms, as a material (bonuses, promotions) or in passion/interest way, this type of motivation has more impacts on personal creativity. (Amabile 1998). Just as important, employees who have the possibility in creativity are more likely to come
up with new ideas, that would help the organization to grow and complete. Innovation
defined as “the process of bringing any new, problem-solving idea into use... Innovation is the generation acceptance and implementation of new
ideas, processes, products or services.‘’ (Kanter 1983) There are two different types of innovation: incremental and radical.
Incremental means to take over existing forms or technologies and make them more innovated while radical is
something completely new. (Harvard Business Review 2003). The Innovation Process begins with idea generation,
when a person develops an accurate and in-depth understanding-insight, second, Development- incubating the idea to the point, the last one is
Commercialization- the customer is making the final decision. Creativity is an essential
element towards the innovation process; it develops a leading idea and helps to move it forward. (Harward Business Review 2003). The table will be presented below to demonstrate findings on difference between Creativity and Innovation.
Table 1: Difference between Creativity and Innovation (Harward Business
Review 2003)
In conclusion, creativity and innovation are two main activities of Innovation
Process, both very similar but also different on the type, components and
purpose they made to perform.
Process, both very similar but also different on the type, components and
purpose they made to perform.
References:
Amabile, T.M., 1996. Creativity and Innovation in Organizations Vol.5. Harvard Business School, Boston.
Amabile, T.M., (1998). How to Kill Creativity in Harvard Business Review, September-October issue.
Harvard Business Review. (2003). Managing Creativity and Innovation. Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Press.
Kanter, R.M. (1983). The change masters. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Taylor, C.W. (1988). Various approaches to and definitions of creativity. In R.J. Sternberg (Ed.), The nature of creativity: Contemporary psychological perspectives (pp. 99-121). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
