Creative Cultures

Dr Cameron Watt

• “We are awash in high quality look alike, me too products and services.” Tom Peters.

• “Now business seeks a new advantage, delicate and dangerous and absolutely vital, the creativity advantage.” John Kao. Harvard Business School.

Why is creativity important?

What can you gain?

Generates significant competitive advantage

Builds and reinforces positive brand image and

reputation

Clear position by offering tangible and

original value

Strengthens organizational environments

The Constructs of Culture

StructureSystems

Values Norms

Work PracticeCultural Practice

DispositionBehaviour Culture

• Using the model reflect on your own organisation’s culture

• What are the characteristics of your culture and why?

• What might the potential affects be on creative behaviour?

Exercise 1

Creative Cultures in Action

Quiksilver:free-flowing creativity

“The sport is very individualistic, very free-form and very non-conventional - those things have to be in this building and in what we do, otherwise we wouldn’t connect with our audience.”

• Free flow in action

– Recruit for attitude and passion– Open minded and inquisitive– Communicate and connect through networks– High levels of trust are apparent– Truly understand their brand and customers– Love what they do

Aardman:creativity everywhere

• Creativity everywhere

– Visionary individuals and passionate teams– Diversity of ideas and people sought– High levels of personal ownership– Stimulation everywhere and all the time – Balanced partnerships– Focus, support and freedom

• Creative firms don’t rely on creative genius or thinking techniques…its about interaction

• Trust is key• Belief and passion (if you are lucky!)• Networks structures and flexible boundaries• Balance diversity• A brand that provides clarity and vision• Humour, fun and challenges• Learning and generous knowledge sharing• People you like and respect

Creative Cultures: The Essentials

• Real commitment from management (over time)

• Organisation-wide participation

• Clear link with strategy

• Perseverance

• Communication of benefits

• A way of life not a project

Success factors

“You can only create if you can care” George Orwell

“I can’t think of any areas of creativity where it can work without a high level of trust”. Operations Director Premier Automotive

• Using the previous examples and your work from exercise 1 conduct a SWOT analysis of your culture in a creative context

– Prioritize key SWOT elements

– Identify potential relational links to the cultural constructs seen in model 2

– Asses how the elements affect creative behaviour

– How might you reinforce the positive and reduce/remove the negative elements?

Exercise 2

Thank you