Business Innovation ? the Value of Being Obvious

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

the Value of Being Obvious

One of the most interesting aspects of creativity and innovation is the general perception of obviousness.

A major block that falls under the general grouping "evaluation apprehension," is people's fear of being perceived as obvious or unoriginal. However, there are many benefits to obviousness, including:

a) Being obvious means that you are creatively thinking as opposed to critically thinking. By filtering obvious statements you are evaluating when you should be concentrating on generating a number of ideas that will be evaluated later.

b) Being obvious is a measure of the true self as opposed to the self that is presented to the world. Through sustained obviousness, it is possible to strip away the layers of blocks that prevent good ideas flourishing.

c) By preventing the obvious, you are not controlling evaluation apprehension.

d) Being obvious results in some of the most interesting and valuable ideas.

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

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.

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/

---

Google News Updated : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:55:22 GMT Obama Predicts Political ‘Realignment,’ Tries to Put Montana in Play - FOXNews New York Daily News Obama Predicts Political ‘Realignment,’ Tries to Put Montana in Play FOXNews - Jul 4, 2008 by FOXNews.com Barack Obama takes questions from supporters during a campaign stop in Fargo, ND, Thursday, before heading to Montana. Obama to set up shop in South Carolina The State Obama's centrist emphasis gives GOP ammo Austin American-Statesman Fort Worth Star Telegram - Los Angeles Times - Times Online - Wall Street Journal all 1,282 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:22:26 GMT A Side Competition in Beijing: Island vs. Mainland - New York Times Xinhua A Side Competition in Beijing: Island vs. Mainland New York Times - 14 hours ago The Taiwanese Olympic table tennis team practicing at Kaohsiung. Taiwanese players have hopes of winning medals next month in a sport China has dominated. KMT honorary chairman hails weekend charter flights, mainland ... Xinhua Taiwan tour operators sceptical about China boom Economic Times AllAfrica.com - International Herald Tribune - Wall Street Journal - BBC News all 902 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:16:20 GMT Oil Prices Drive Stocks to Bear Market - Washington Post Boston Globe Oil Prices Drive Stocks to Bear Market Washington Post - 1 hour ago US stocks fell last week, giving the Dow Jones industrial average a 20 percent bear-market drop from October's all-time high as record oil prices threatened global economic growth. A Bear Market, Mauling Not Included New York Times Stocks end mixed following jobs, services data The Associated Press CNBC - Bloomberg - Forbes - Pittsburgh Post Gazette all 641 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:50:10 GMT Jesse Helms, former senator, conservative icon, dies - Newsday Wall Street Journal Jesse Helms, former senator, conservative icon, dies Newsday - 8 hours ago Jesse Helms, the former five-term US senator from North Carolina whose relish for thwarting initiatives he opposed as too liberal earned him the nickname "Senator No," died Friday at age 86. Video: A Look Back At Jesse Helms CBS NC Senator's Hard-Line Conservatism Helped Craft Republican Social ... Washington Post Wall Street Journal - Boston Globe - San Jose Mercury News - Washington Times all 2,328 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:58:21 GMT ECB's dovish tone weakens euro - Financial Times ECB's dovish tone weakens euro Financial Times - 56 minutes ago By Peter Garnham The euro sold off sharply this week after the European Central Bank signalled it was not planning another rise in eurozone interest rates. France's Sarkozy Questions If ECB Rate Increase `Reasonable' Bloomberg Fighting Inflation, Europeans Raise Rate New York Times MarketWatch - Reuters - Forbes - Wall Street Journal all 1,859 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:59:10 GMT Google trying to take privacy seriously - ZDNet Boston Globe Google trying to take privacy seriously ZDNet - 7 hours ago This week was a very interesting week as far as Google and privacy goes. First, a burglary (the same on that affected CNET earlier last month) was confirmed to have affected all Google employees hired before December 31, 2005. Court order on YouTube user data fans privacy fears Reuters Finding Fault With Google's Privacy Policy Slashdot Washington Post - BusinessWeek - Los Angeles Times - InternetNews.com all 901 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:49:42 GMT As Web Traffic Grows, Crashes Take Bigger Toll - New York Times Canada.com As Web Traffic Grows, Crashes Take Bigger Toll New York Times - 10 hours ago By BRAD STONE SAN FRANCISCO - Alex Payne, a 24-year-old Internet engineer here, has devised a way to answer a commonly asked question of the digital age: Is my favorite Web site working today? MSFT’s acquisition of Powerset is not about search ZDNet Powerset Grab Shows Microsoft's Commitment To Search InformationWeek ReadWriteWeb - Ars Technica - Inquirer - PC Magazine all 284 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:32:17 GMT Blogging Software RSS Software

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Think Outside The Cup and Saucer

There were four of us at dinner. Three ordered "regular"... Read More

Befriend Your Budget, This Yuletide and Always

It is that time of year again. Yuletide?Christmas in the... Read More

Business Innovation ? Real Self versus the Trained Self

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

What Dreams Will Come!

As the pioneers of aviation took to the air (not... Read More

Fire Evacuation Drill with a Difference

I had been given the task to organize a fire... Read More

Cumulative Gains in Innovation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

12 Tips for Taking Smart, Calculated Risks

Most of us know we should take more risks. But... Read More

Business Innovation ? Small Changes, Big Effects

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management - Good Ideas Part 1

The constant search for Good Ideas has resulted in many... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management - Teach, Coach, Learn

Coaching, training or learning about creativity and innovation involves mastery... Read More

Innovation Management ? Ideas From The Most Embarrassing Experiences Of Life

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Business Innovation ? Radical and Disruptive Innovation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Business Ideas ? Need a New Idea? Try Changing Your Perspective

One definition of creativity states that creative people look at... Read More

Techno Witch II - Magick With Your PC

You've heard of applied science, well how about applied Magick.... Read More

Color Your Life

Have you ever arrived at place in your career and... Read More

Business Innovation ? Good Thinking

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Choosing a Winning Business Idea

You've probably heard it a hundred times by now -... Read More

Opportunity: Could You Be Colour-blind?

Do you consider your vision perfect? You may never have... Read More

The Hidden Superpowers Of Your Mind

The mind is an infinite wonder. It has the fantastic... Read More

Creativity Management ? When To Add Talent

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Business Innovation ? Confidence through Competence

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Solve Problems With A Word List

To creatively solve problems you need to get your mind... Read More

Life ? The Teacher

You've probably heard the phrase "repetition is the mother of... Read More

What to Do When You Are Chased by a Snake

I lived for several years on the Japanese island of... Read More

Innovation Problems and The flow of Thought

The most progressive Think Tanks, Brain Trusts, research facilities in... Read More