The DOI matches its Crossref record; 182 of the 186 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
9 Creativity in Organizations
Abstract
In this chapter, I review contemporary theories and research on creativity in organizations. After discussing key definitional issues in this domain, I review the contemporary scholarly literature proceeding from the most molecular of perspectives focusing on within-individual processes to the more molar perspective of the collective creativity that can take place in work groups. While the within-individual process featured most prominently in the extant literature is intrinsic motivation, after a treatment of some fundamental issues surrounding the intrinsic motivation construct, I review research on conscious and unconscious thinking and positive and negative affect as key internal processes relevant to understanding creativity. Next, I focus on contextual influences on creativity including safety signals, creativity prompts, supervisors, leadership, and networks. Lastly, I focus on creativity in groups (from both an input and a process perspective). In closing, I reiterate a recurrent theme throughout the review. This is an exciting era for research on creativity in organizations with many intriguing questions awaiting future scholarly inquiry.
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“Intrinsic motivation is linked to creativity [63,178], as people are more likely to generate truly creative ideas when inspired by their interest, satisfaction, enjoyment, and the challenge of the work [9].”
From Absorbed in technology but digitally overloaded: Interplay effects on gig workers’ burnout and creativity (2021) · cites this paper as [63]
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Metadata
- Authors
- George, J. M.
- Affiliations
- Rice University (US)
- Corresponding author
- George, Jennifer M.
- Venue
- Academy of Management Annals
- Publisher
- Academy of Management
- Published
- 2007-12
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 439-477
- ISSN
- 1941-6067 (ISSN-L)
- 1941-6520
- OpenAlex
- W2153661603
- Cited by
- 781
- References
- 186
- Citations by year
- 2026: 34 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 61 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 70 · 2017: 46 · 2016: 57 · 2015: 57 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 33
- FWCI
- 15.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academy of Management Annals (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Creativity in Education and Neuroscience
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Team Dynamics and Performance
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Management and Innovation
- Keywords
- organizational creativity, intrinsic motivation, positive and negative affect, safety signals, leadership, social networks, team creativity
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