Business and organizational objectives depend on new products and ideas in order to maintain forward momentum in today’s market. Leadership bears the burden on encouraging new developments but it is the responsibility of the entire organization to keep fresh ideas on the table and bring these ideas to life. From the initial new idea to the development and implementation of the idea or product, the organization depends on the thought processes of the team. Although often used interchangeably, innovation, design, and creativity are similar yet different elements that are crucial to achieving organizational objectives.
The role of the leadership in the development of ideas that will lead to achieving these objectives is to determine which of these elements are necessary. Innovation leads to the development of a new idea, product, or process. Through innovation new solutions to existing problems can be developed. Creativity allows an individual to not only see different solutions to existing problems but also to recognize new problems that may have otherwise been overlooked. Design leads to the tangible results of innovative and creative thinking.
Researcher, Mootee (2011), explains that the three elements come together in an organizational process called “design thinking.” Defining this process, Mootee (2011) states that design thinking offers a means to solve complex problems, serves in a manner to encourage exploration and experimentation, and creates marketing research that involves the consumer as part of the design team (pg. 3). In the article “Design Thinking for Creativity and Business Innovation Series,” Mootee (2011) suggests that design is the end result of innovation and creativity. The former for new ideas and the latter for additional ways to look at ideas. The article also expresses that design thinking is important for business to be comfortable with change in defining and redefining the products, services, and processes that outline the organization in order to successfully reach objectives.
Comparatively, innovation, creativity, and design are all a part of addressing problems within an organization. Whether it is existing issues or the need for a fresh approach, the three elements play a role in serving the organization. Each of the elements work on different aspects of objectives but are necessary components of one another. Using the combination of innovation, creativity, and design, an organization can continue to grow and progress through the necessary changes that it takes to stay on top.
- Mootee, Idris. (2011). Design thinking for creativity and business innovation series. Idea couture. Retrieved from http://www.ideacouture.com/files/harvard/ideacouture-design-thinking-primer.pdf.
