Serial I - Managers of Creativity

Creativity Management sure deserves more attention in the eLearning industry. It is important for managers to connect with the creative force in their project teams if they want to change the western client’s mindset about the quality of work that can be sourced from India.

The main reason behind most clients not entrusting curriculum and course design work to India (although they do source a lot of content development work from here,) is the lack of trust. They can’t trust what they don’t see, even though the capability may exist. If we want to move towards the value market, we will have to allow creativity to flourish, and to achieve this, we will need to manage creativity.

Managers of Creativity - Episode III - August'05
(Other Episodes: Episode II - July'05, Episode I - June'05 )

Welcome to the third and final episode of “Managers of Creativity.” I am sure that those who have used the knowledge gained from this serial to manage their creative team-members, peers, or even creative supervisors (!) must’ve noticed that the quality as well as the output of their team-interactions have already improved. Well, in this final episode, I present two articles that will help you smoothen the remaining rough edges.

I couldn't have found a better article to present in this last episode, than Mr. Mark H. McCormack's “PERSPECTIVE: Success Secrets,” which can be read at http://www.bohol.net/1997/news005.htm. In this short, to-the-point article, Mr. McCormack hits the nail right at its head and drives home his four-point Creativity Management thumb rules!

Ask the managers and they will probably say that managing creativity is pure fantasy. Read "Managing creative people in a few easy steps…and other fiction" at http://www.people-one.com/thehub/hrhumor/hrhumor-Managing.asp to appreciate the true nature of this task!

I hope that the eLearning managers have found this serial useful. Send your feedback to Wavelength, and let us know what you would like to see featured in this section.

Managers of Creativity - Episode II - July'05
(Other Episodes: Episode III - August'05, Episode I - June'05 )

Welcome to the second episode of “Managers of Creativity.” Here are some more links that will help those who aspire to wear the metaphoric crown of thorns. Yes…a crown of thorns! If you manage creativity well, there is a chance that your popularity with others of your kind may slip down a notch…only motivational speakers can ensure unblemished and omnipresent popularity! But don’t worry about the green-eyed monster just yet.

1. Read this thought-provoking article by Edward de Bono. It brings into focus the reality of creativity. The article suggests that "Innovation" is a better term than "creativity," and goes further to explain how creativity can be managed. In my opinion, innovation is a product of creativity...it's not the term “creativity” but its perception that we should challenge. This slight difference of opinion aside, I think this article is a wonderful read! Click on http://www.thinkingmanagers.com/management/creativity-management.php.
   
   
2. http://www.geocities.com/freehomebasedbusiness/articles/management/26.htm presents Kal Bishop's ideas on how creative output can be increased. The concept that prolific output leads to creative output is extremely interesting.
   
   
3. Another article by Kal Bishop at http://www.profitbooks.com/articles/c/creativity_management
   __measurement__benchmarking_and_imp.html reviews some standard definitions of creativity. Here he proposes that creativity can be measurable, tangible, and useful.

Managers of Creativity - Episode I - June'05
(Other Episodes: Episode III - August'05, Episode II - July'05 )

Let’s begin by reviewing creativity and creativity management.

1. Read the Wavelength article The Paradox of Creativity Management as a primer for this serial.
   
   
2. Click on http://www.thinkingmanagers.com/management/creative-people.php to find out what differentiates creative people from others?
   
   
3. Check out http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/im_knowledge_idea.html
   and review the three factors that inspire creative ideas.
   
   
4. All this is not to say that the creative people shouldn’t do what they can, to make their project manager’s life better. Click on http://www.management-issues.com/display_page.asp?section=events&id=275 to learn how writers and other creative people can manage their time effectively.

May the force be with you!

(Note: If you are on the other side (Yes! the Creative Side,) don’t forget to see “Revenge of the Sith”. - The Marriage of the best in creativity with the best in technology! Some marriages are made in George Lucas’ studio!)