Help.... we need ideas! Creativity and innovation: how to tell the difference

• Luc de BRABANDÈRE
  Consultant, Paradigm administrator
  

Summary

How can a boss encourage his employees to be creative, and at the same time complain that there are too many ideas in his company? Luc de Brandebère casts light on this paradox by distinguishing between creativity and innovation. Creativity produces divergence, abundance and unlimited production, while innovation is dependent on convergence, selection and application in accordance with strict standards. Taking into account this "double-edged sword" and organising appropriate procedures constitutes the basis of idea management in companies. The challenge is to be a step ahead of one's competitors in a world where material resource management, which tends to become better and better, no longer makes a difference.

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Sylvie CHEVRIER.

To obtain this article, you can :

• download it for free in French (PDF help) or contact ecopar@paris.ensmp.fr (Reference CF060598).

The entire article appears in French in the Journal de l'École de Paris du management N° 13.