(Un)Structured Creativity in Information Systems Organizations.

Author List: Couger, J. Daniel; Higgins, Lexis F.; McIntyre, Scott C.;
MIS Quarterly, 1993, Volume 17, Issue 4, Page 375-397.
The subject of creativity is a neglected area in the literature of the information systems field. Yet, according to a Delphi survey of chief information officers, the field needs to be developing more creative and innovative solutions to its problems. Organizations must first be sure that certain preconditions and organizational components be in place to help individuals and teams become more creative. They can then use numerous creativity improvements techniques that have proved successful in other disciplines. In this article, six case studies show how analytical techniques (progressive abstraction, interrogatories. and force field analysis) and Intuitive techniques (associations/images, wishful thinking, and analogy/metaphor) have been used in several industries to solve a variety of IS-related problems and/or opportunities. All told, some 20 creativity techniques prove especially appropriate for the IS field. Once managers understand when and where to use creativity techniques, they can move forward with implementing formal creativity improvement programs in their organizations.
Keywords: creative climate; Creativity; creativity in information systems; creativity techniques
Algorithm:

List of Topics

#142 0.296 creativity ideas idea creative individual generation techniques individuals problem support cognitive ideation stimuli memory generate enhance generated solutions solving quality
#63 0.166 mis problems article systems management edp managers organizations ;br> data survey application examines need experiences recent organization reports departments oriented
#21 0.134 research information systems science field discipline researchers principles practice core methods area reference relevance conclude set focus propose perspective inquiry
#159 0.109 systems information objectives organization organizational development variety needs need efforts technical organizations developing suggest given effective designing lack help recent
#123 0.068 information strategy strategic technology management systems competitive executives role cio chief senior executive cios sis support organization officer position ceos
#147 0.052 process problem method technique experts using formation identification implicit analysis common proactive input improvements identify traditional stages identifying explicit setting