Capitalizing on Careabouts to Facilitate Creativity

Abstract

Low‐level knowledge work is work that requires some, but not a great deal, of knowledge to perform. This work sustains the operations of all of our major businesses. As we transform to a knowledge society, it will become increasingly important that this work be performed creatively. Amabile’s well‐researched framework for understanding creative action suggests that reward strategies will be successful if knowledge workers are intrinsically motivated, but low‐level knowledge work more often than not attracts those who lack intrinsic motivation. As a result, the likelihood of creative action for this group of workers is low. How can “garden variety” creative action be facilitated when knowledge workers lack intrinsic motivation? I introduce the notion of “careabouts,” and suggest ways of linking personal careabouts to incorporate objectives. This linkage provides the hook that can hoist these low‐level knowledge workers into creative knowledge work in the knowledge society.