Introduction
Innovation, creativity and design, go hand in hand in the context of successful management processes. Innovation refers to applying better solutions that are meant to meet the articulated needs, new requirements or modify the existing market needs. It involves the implementation and production of the imaginative ideas Creativity is a phenomenon that refers to the act of turning imaginative and new valuable ideas. It is the process that involves thinking and later producing the thought. Design, on the other hand, refers to the process of decision making that is conscious in transforming an idea into a tangible or intangible outcome. It involves creating a plan that a will eventually be used to develop and construct the required system. The three concepts although the do hand in hand, they all have some similarities and differences that are evident between them.
Comparison between the Three Concepts
Although creativity, design and innovation, are often used interchangeably, there are significant differences and similarities between them. One fundamental similarity is that innovation is composed of creativity and other fundamental building blocks different from creativity. Innovation flourish in an environment where factors that facilitate creativity are present. This means that these factors must be achieved in order to foster both innovation and creativity. Innovation is different from creativity in that it is measurable, whereas creativity cannot be measured. This is because creativity is subject to the potential of the mind whereas innovation is subject to the introduction of change into a system which results can be measured. Creativity is the development of ideas whereas innovation is the implementation process of the created ideas. Design is different from both creativity and innovation in that it involves the actual development of the structure that will help realize the created ideas. It involves eliminating the obstacles that hinder the creative idea. Design is a product of innovation and creativity. It cannot operate on itself since it depends on the idea generated through creativity and innovation. It is similar with creativity and innovation in that they all depend, on each other to ensure that an organisation has a competitive edge over its competitors.
Importance of the three Concepts in Meeting Organizational Objectives.
The importance of creativity, design and innovation, is pegged on how well the three aspects are integrated together in the operations of the business. Organisation needs to incorporate these aspects in their operation in order to remain competitive in their areas of operation. Organisations must create new ideas that will help in developing new products and services that are different from those made by the competing partners. The three aspects help in differentiating the activities and output of the company from the competitors. They also help develop a sustainable culture in the organisation that improves the efficiency of the organisation. Innovation fuels up the growth of an organisation and ensure the continued successful operation of the company. An organisation should establish an evolving culture that nurture innovation, which will encourage creativity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a company’s strategy for behaving competitively and sustain growth must incorporate creativity, innovation and design in its present and future operations. An organisation must understand the importance of these three aspects in order to know how well to coordinate their implementation. This will ensure the expected results are achieved. Differentiating the key differences and similarities between these aspects will facilitate the successful realization of company’s objectives.
References
Naiman, L., 2011. What is Creativity?. [Online] Available at: http://www.creativityatwork.com/2011/11/19/what-is-creativity/[Accessed 9 November 2013].
Stamm, B. v., 2008. Managing Innovation, Design and Creativity, 2nd Edition. 2nd ed. Hoboken: Wiley.
