In this 2014 Jossey-Bass publication, Burkus gets right down to business by framing his study in Harvard Business School professor Teresa Amabile’s “componential model of creativity” which asserts creativity is influenced by four separate components:
- Domain-relevant skills (commonly called “expertise”)
- Creativity-relevant processes (methods used to approach a problem toward solutions)
- Task motivation (a person’s willingness to engage)
- Social environments (the environment in which we operate)
The balance of the book investigates each of the myths identified by Burkus. These are very instructive labels, and I find that most of what I have blogged about so far on ChoralNet fits into one of these innovation “mythological” areas. Here are Burkus’s “myths”:
- Eureka Myth-the myth of a flash of insight
- Breed Myth-the myth that some people are born to be innovative
- Originality Myth-the myth that an insight is somehow original
- Expert Myth-the myth that experts can only solve hard problems
- Incentive Myth-the myth that creativity’s motivation can be created through incentives
- Lone Creator Myth-the myth that single individuals actually create breakthroughs
- Brainstorming Myth-the myth that brainstorming alone can lead to a breakthrough
- Cohesive Myth-the myth that zany groups in cohesive communities are the answer
- Constraints Myth-the myth that limited resources or other constraints limit creativity
- Mousetrap Myth-the myth that once we have an idea, the work of innovation is done
The author states one universal truth—that is, creativity is the starting point for all innovation, and innovation is necessary for growth and improvement.
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