Creativity and Innovation Management - Motivation


Motivation in creativity and innovation is more important than personality traits. This is like possessing high intelligence ? one must be motivated to improve and apply it.

It is compelling that motivation and creative output are positively correlated. The more motivated an individual, the more likely he or she is to engage in the task at various cognitive levels until an outcome is achieved.

Contrary to many assertions, factors that make up motivation can be isolated, monitored and measured using standard quantitative techniques.

This allows a leader, consultant or manager to measure and improve motivation with a corresponding rise in creative output.

There are broad and specific categories of motivation.

Broad categories (Amabile, 1983):

a) Intrinsic motivation - that where fulfillment is reached by attaining the solution to the problem itself, the activity is engaged in for its own sake. Characteristics of intrinsically motivated people include commitment to work, passionate involvement, total absorption and devotion to their work, interest and satisfaction in their work, challenged by their work.

b) Extrinsic motivation ? that where the achievement of the task results in the fulfilment of an ulterior end, rather than the task itself. It is the motivation to engage in an activity primarily in order to meet some goal external to the work itself, such as attaining an expected reward, winning a competition or meeting some requirement.

Extrinsic motivation is itself split into two categories: synergistic and non-synergistic. Synergistic extrinsic motivators provide information or enable the person to better complete the task and act in accordance with intrinsic motives. Non-synergistic reward leads a person to feel controlled and is incompatible with intrinsic motivation.

A number of specific categories exist, including:

a) The gap between the person's ideal and real self. If an individual perceives that he is not what he wishes to be, he is more likely to be motivated to engage in activities that bring him closer to his ideal self.

b) The perceived enjoyability of the task. Terms such as "fun," "amusing," "fascinating" and "inspiring" are common.

c) The degree of challenge. The more a task is perceived as challenging and competency expanding, the more the intrinsic motivation.

d) Feasibility. If a task is perceived to be unreachable, intrinsic motivation decreases.

e) Control of ones destiny. If an individual perceives that a task is not under his control, then intrinsic motivation decreases.

f) Recognition is noted by many to be a powerful driver of task engagement.

************************************

These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a DIY Audit, Powerpoint Presentation and Good Idea Generator Software) from http://www.managing-creativity.com.

You are free to reproduce this article as long as the author's name and site URL are retained. A link to the MBA dissertation would be appreciated.

Rate this article (below).

Kal Bishop MBA is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com







Related News



CR Washington senior ramps up his motivation - DesMoinesRegister.com

CR Washington senior ramps up his motivation
DesMoinesRegister.com, IA -17 hours ago
By TOMMY BIRCH • tbirch@dmreg.com • December 4, 2008 A collage of state meet photos and one question provide all the motivation John Sevier needs as the ...

SCarolina has players-only meeting over motivation - SportingNews.com

SCarolina has players-only meeting over motivation
SportingNews.com -7 hours ago
Garcia says most of the players talked about getting their motivation back for a bowl game after a 56-6 loss to Florida, followed by a 31-14 loss at Clemson ...
SCarolina's Garcia relishes shot as bowl starterSportingNews.com
all 10 news articles


Pistons' Wallace uses technical foul as motivation - The Associated Press

Washington Post

Pistons' Wallace uses technical foul as motivation
The Associated Press -Dec 3, 2008
Sometimes he even uses them as motivation. After being hit with a technical with 15 minutes remaining, Wallace scored 17 points, including three 3-pointers ...
Iverson, Wallace lead Pistons past SpursSportingNews.com
all 471 news articles

Facing Raiders on national TV will serve as motivation Thursday - San Diego Union Tribune

The Southern Ledger

Facing Raiders on national TV will serve as motivation Thursday
San Diego Union Tribune, CA -Dec 2, 2008
And while they technically do, they also are searching for other reasons to be up for Thursday night's game against Oakland (and the three that follow it), ...
Pickin' & Grinnin': Lucky or not, if it ain't broke, don't rewrite itFort Worth Star Telegram
NFL Office Pool Picks - Week 14Doc's Sports Service
all 472 news articles

Motivation driving Cairo - Times-Enterprise

Motivation driving Cairo
Times-Enterprise, GA -3 hours ago
Though revenge might be a point of discussion for Syrupmakers fans, it wont’ be a motivating factor for the team. “Last year’s team and this year’s team are ...

Jets' Jenkins feels responsible for loss to Broncos - Newsday

Jets' Jenkins feels responsible for loss to Broncos
Newsday, NY -1 hour ago
You use the wins as motivation, you use your losses as motivation. You use whatever you can to be a better player."

Improving motivation and retention of health professionals in ... - 7thSpace Interactive (press release)

Improving motivation and retention of health professionals in ...
7thSpace Interactive (press release), NY -9 hours ago
The authors undertook a systematic review to consolidate existing evidence on the impact of financial and non-financial incentives on motivation and ...

Lutcher finds motivation in early-season loss - 2TheAdvocate

Lutcher finds motivation in early-season loss
2TheAdvocate, LA -14 hours ago
While winning is a tonic that cures the ills for most teams, losing has provided the perfect motivation for the Bulldogs, who host Cecilia (10-2) at 7 pm ...

Hoya: I trained for 'King Kong' - Philippine Star

The Age

Hoya: I trained for 'King Kong'
Philippine Star, Philippines -10 hours ago
AP LAS VEGAS – There’s no greater motivation for Oscar dela Hoya than Manny Pacquiao himself. Not his family or his team, not everything that’s been said ...
Video: De la Hoya v motivatedVirgin Media Sport
Oscar De La Hoya on his motivation for fighting Manny PacquiaoDoghouse Boxing
SecondsOut Debate: De La Hoya vs. PacquiaoSecondsOut
ringsidereport.com - Sportingo
all 707 news articles

Matt Cassel serves as an example of perseverance and motivation - Fairfield Minuteman

Washington Post

Matt Cassel serves as an example of perseverance and motivation
Fairfield Minuteman, CT -12 hours ago
During a recent Thursday night game against the New York Jets in Foxboro, Mass., New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel had a little bit better than ...
Playoffs: Play your regularsHeraldNet
Week 13 in Preview Curtain Descending on the Patriots’ HopesNew York Times
Performance shows QB Matt Cassel not quite thereBoston Herald
all 1,205 news articles