Andre John Haddad
Industrial Psychologist

A short and long term strategy

(October 2007) 

I was recently asked to work on a development program to transform a conventional organization into an innovative and creative place to work in. As the title of this paper implies, there are many strategies to generate innovation, and that's precisely what we will be discussing in this document. 

We are obliged for clarity's sake to make a distinction between creativity and innovation. There are three important reasons to do so. Firstly, because these concepts are often mistaken for one another and shouldn't. 

Secondly, because of the confusion generated by the misunderstanding of these two concepts, managers are unwilling, incapable or indifferent to encourage or manage creativity and innovation in the workplace. It's too complicated, risky and unpredictable! Not only will managers shy away from creative ideas and innovations, they will mismanage those who consistently present creative and innovative objects to their workplace colleagues. 

Thirdly, there are alternate definitions and relationships between creativity and innovation...