Organizational Aesthetics and Creative Outputs

Abstract

Artifacts as part of the organizational aesthetics have been more often studied as a ‘communication tool’ that elicit emotions, meanings, goals, and values to employees and rarely as an impact on creativity. Although researchers have explored the idea that organizational artifacts can affect employees’ creativity, very little is known about how and why it works and the underlying mechanisms of it. Drawing on the frameworks of Rafaeli & Vilnai-Yavetz’s, (2004a) description of artifacts characteristics and Shimamura’s (2012) I-SKE model, this article has proposed a theoretical model explaining the mechanisms through which visual artifacts at work create an aesthetic experience for employees that in turn influences creative ideas. The model takes into consideration the conditions of creative leadership and creative role identity. In addition, the article adds to the literature of creativity and organizational aesthetics by pointing out the underlying mechanisms that connects these two areas.