Innovation and creativity in organisations: a review of the implications for training and development

Abstract

Reviews the contributions to the understanding of creativity and innovation in organisations and interprets the implications for training and development. Highlights key and recurrent principles: the benefits of an integrated organisational approach, the right climate for creativity, appropriate incentives for innovators, a structured means of search and a systematic way to convert an opportunity into an innovation. It implies a broad range of skills development including: team working, communications, coaching, project management, learning to learn, visioning, change management and leadership. Even though techniques for the development of innovation and enhancing creativity in individuals are well founded, there are relatively few reports on the practice of mainstreaming creativity in an organisational setting. Likewise, although the transition from idea to innovation can be systematised, problems arise from customised applications that involve the management of the change process. The application of Internet and intranet communications for innovation are beginning to emerge but the literature base lags the speed of applications. The paper concludes with a synopsis of the training and development implications of stimulating creativity and innovation in organisations.