Comments on: Physics and Ideation: Creativity and Mismatched Socks

By: Fred H. Schlegel

Fred H. Schlegel — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:28:39 +0000

And that puts the finger on the true problem. When you outsource, the organization losses real knowledge, whether it is your accounting system, production line, engineering or artist. Sometimes what is gained outweighs what is lost. Sometimes it doesn’t.

By: Fred H. Schlegel

Fred H. Schlegel — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:27:00 +0000

Hi Diana, Getting out can sometimes be the only way to stay sane and true to yourself. But I like to think there can be a middle ground where creativity (and difference of opinion) can flourish benefiting both creative and organization alike. I was involved in some experiments to that end during my Hallmark days that were very fruitful (while they were allowed.) Of course, I’ve been ‘out’ for some time now myself and seldom look back.

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:59:16 +0000

What Andrew said (both times). But especially “For those working within the horribly bureaucratic structures of a government organization… No wonder large organizations find the process of attracting and retaining creative talent to be such a challenge.”

I’ve been there and done that and I’ve never seen such a soul-killing apparatus as I did working for municipal government. I don’t think I will ever entirely recover my former self.

Once you are “inside,” you are absorbed and then defined by their lack of imagination. That’s why they hire consultants. As their narcissistic object, you couldn’t possibly know anything they can’t imagine. Get it?

I got out.

Diana’s last blog post..Unconditional art

By: LaVonn

LaVonn — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:50:32 +0000

I think the problem with outsourcing creativity is the same as using consultants but magnified by 10. The consultant has no real control over the ultimate implementation and execution of their ideas, remedies and solutions. Without that “passionate protector” it is difficult to survive in the melee of the everyday business cycle. While I think the pressure to oursource creativity will continue to increase, the wisest leaders will recognize that it needs to come from within.

By: Fred H. Schlegel

Fred H. Schlegel — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:16:55 +0000

@Brad and @Andrew Great points. The drive to outsource creativity in every department is very strong. This can actually be very productive, especially when the skill in question is far outside the organization’s primary strengths. The problem I’ve seen with this though is management ends up losing faith in their own people – calling in consultants even on questions that can and should have been answered internally. Some of my most enjoyable assignments have been to help reconnect the chain and help managers realize answers were floating all around them.

So maybe the great hope of the creative spirit is to ‘get out’ so they can have a bigger impact ‘back in.’

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:52:59 +0000

Fred,

I think Brad makes an interesting point in terms of the preference for creativity from the outside, and as Brad suggests, there is definitely more of a tendency amongst internal employees to toe the line, and this in many cases limits their capacity for innovative ideas when compared to those who operate outside of the company.

But their may be other factors at play in addition to the ‘toe the line’ culture of internal employees, and one of these, I think, relates to the need for fresh perspectives. It is all too easy for employees of an organization to become accustomed to the ways and systems of the organization, and this may limit their ability to see the potential for new and better ways of accomplishing certain tasks.

On the other hand, those who operate externally to an organization have a greater capacity to view the methods, procedures and systems of the organization from a fresh perspective, and thereby more easily identify any areas for potential improvement.

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:09:04 +0000

Sigh. My prediction - creativity will come from outside the organization in the future. Partly, this will happen because companies are figuring out that they can tap into the creativity of the world via the internet. Already, P&G is trying to outsource most of their new product ideas, according to what I read. But the other reason for outsourcing creativity is that organizations are more open to ideas from the outside. Too much pressure on employees to toe the line. Within organizations the pull of conformity is as irresistible as the pull of gravity. There may be exceptions, but on the whole organizational conformity is as old as humankind. Brad Shorr’s last blog post..Influence Customers with Meaningful Terms in Meta Descriptions

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:20:42 +0000

Fred,

Ideas are powerful but only so if they are acted upon.

For those working within the horribly bureaucratic structures of a government organization or a large company, the process of nurturing and developing ideas until they are accepted by decision makers requires a great deal of persistence.

I think this is one of the reasons why companies and government organizations tend to lose their most creative people, who seem to me to like either (a) working for smaller start ups; or (b) striking out on their own.

Those who strike out on their own are free to act upon their idea immediately. Those who work in a large bureaucratic structure often have a great battle in getting their idea through the inspiration-killing bureaucracy before any action can happen.

No wonder large organizations find the process of attracting and retaining creative talent to be such a challenge.

Andrew’s last blog post..Should copyright infringers be disconnected?