Managing Creativity and Innovation

Managing Creativity and Innovation



Managing Creativity and Innovation

Question 1

One of the most important and critical activities of organisations is to make decisions. The decision might involve the strategic direction of the organisation or just simply deal with the day-to-day activities of employees. Decisions might be made after months of gathering information or be made in an instant without any or with limited information or consideration.

In an organisation, individuals might make the decision alone, through consultation with relevant organisational members or in larger groups. But what is a decision actually? Literature offers several definitions and as Andersen (2003) reminds, it is nowadays very hard to find a clear theoretical definition for this phenomenon. He also emphasizes that the organisational sociology is still tied up to Shannon's communication model where the decision maker acts as a sender. System theorist Niklas Luhmann defined the decision as a form of communication which limits contingency and "choice between alternatives" (Andersen, 2003).

The decisions may be influenced by emotions, reasoning or a combination of both. As members of a group we may find ourselves making decisions on a group basis, where our own views and feelings have to be tested and argued with the other members. In organisation people with managerial roles are expected among other things to make decisions as an important part of their responsibilities.

In managerial decision making one is concerned with behavior that is designed to cause things to happen or not to happen. Whilst it may be affected by feelings and interpersonal relationship managerial decision making tends to be rational in its approach. Considerable effort and time may be spent in assessing problems, developing alternative solutions and evaluating their consequences before arriving at a decision.

The Decision Making Process

Define the problem, the idea and the opportunity

Collect relevant data

Develop alternative solution

Assess the consequences

Select the optimal solution

Implement the solution

Measure results.

Decisions as a Communication and Organisational Process

Organisations as systems have need for communicative action. According to Andersen (2003), this necessity born when coordinated action, decision making, needs communication. Decision making in organisations can be considered as strategic action because decision making is oriented toward successful problem solving.

Decisions are also an organisational process. According to Seidl & Becker (2006, 26), this process is created when one decision is in connection to another one. In this connection, the uncertainty of the first decision disappears, because the first decision is not evaluated anymore.

Berry, (2006) remind that decisions in organisations serve as symbolic processes and are a central part of the socialisation process. This process can communicate the norms, values and beliefs the organisation have. Decision making also indicates the managerial attitudes toward communication. The process might also influence individual attitudes and perceptions towards an organisation.

Managing Change and Innovation in an Organisations

Change is not new to organisations. From the beginning to the end organisations are facing to changers due to drivers such as globalisation, new technology, inflation, environmental changes, customer expectations and competition. Most of well established and also newly established organisations are able to face the changes and ...