What Businesses Can Learn from the Arts
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This document summarizes key findings from the 2010 IBM Global CEO Study, which interviewed over 1,500 business leaders. The study found that creativity was viewed as the most important leadership quality by CEOs. Successful CEOs encourage experimentation, innovation, and risk-taking throughout their organizations. They are also willing to disrupt the status quo and continuously reinvent their business models. To foster creativity, CEOs need to develop these skills across their entire organizations and encourage questioning of past assumptions. They are also embracing new forms of communication to engage employees and customers.
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What Businesses Can Learn from the Arts
- 1. 1" ! C" oncurrence" " What Businesses Can Learn from Arts. April 2015. Volume 1
- 3. 3" Inception! ! Concurrence.! The$definition,$as$per$Webster’s$online$dictionary,$is$the$simultaneous$occurrence$of$events$or$ circumstances.$Also,$an$agreement$or$union$in$action$:$cooperation.$ $ We$could$not$think$of$a$better$name$for$our$e>magazine,$which$will$attempt$to$explore$the$ agreement$or$union$of$Art$and$Business$worlds,$to$create$new$ideas,$learnings$and$more.$ $ Can$the$world$of$business$learn$from$the$world$of$the$arts?$And$the$artist?$Can$these$two$ spaces$that$so$rarely$unite$look$at$each$other$differently,$with$new$energy$and$insight?$And$ can$those$new$insights$lead$to$new$solutions,$to$invention$and$innovation?$$ $ Design$guru$and$author$of$The$Laws$of$Simplicity,$John$Maeda$said$in$an$interview$in$late$2014$ that$“We!seem!to!forget!that!innovation!doesn't!just!come!from!equations!or!new!kinds!of! chemicals,!it!comes!from!a!human!place.!Innovation!in!the!sciences!is!always!linked!in!some! way,!either!directly!or!indirectly,!to!a!human!experience.!And!human!experiences!happen! through!engaging!with!the!arts!–!listening!to!music,!say,!or!seeing!a!piece!of!art.”! ! He$went$on$to$add:$“Superior! innovation! comes! from! bringing! divergents! (the! artists! and! designers)!and!convergents!(science!and!engineering)!together.”! $ Our$magazine$will$have$this$simple$agenda:$to$talk$about$the$convergence$of$the$worlds$of$ arts$and$business.$In$our$inaugural$issue,$we$have$a$rich$mix$of$content$that,$we$feel,$will$ speak$more$on$this$idea.$ $ We$spoke$to$Biren$Ghose,$Country$Head$of$Technicolor$India$and$found$out$how$one$of$the$ world’s$most$advanced$studios$leverage$creativity$to$deliver$blockbuster$movies$around$the$ world.$And$why$arts$matter$to$creative$people.$ $ Our$ partner$ in$ Italy,$ Leonardo$ Previ,$ the$ President$ of$ Trivioquadrivio,$ writes$ on$ how$ Innovation$can$benefit$from$artistic$thinking.$ $ Our$partner$in$Australia,$Dr.Cathryn$Lloyd$of$Maverick$Minds$sends$us$her$ideas$on$how$a$ culture$of$learning$can$be$augmented$through$Art>Based$Learnings.$ $ And$a$lot$more.$Articles,$book$reviews,$write>ups.$ $ Concurrence$will$appear$in$your$email$box$every$quarter.$This$is$our$first$edition,$and$I$hope$ you$will$enjoy$reading$it.$Please,$do$share$your$feedback,$to$help$us$improve.$ $ Looking$forward,$with$excitement,$ $ $
- 4. " CONCURRENCE" " Contents! ! $ $ Page$ Inception$ Concurrence$ 3$ Happenings$ A$Little$Context,$Please:$The$IBM$Global$CEO$Study$ 6$ Exploration$ Art$–$a$tool$to$Develop$Leadership.$Are$We$Ready?$ 10$ Tete>a>tete$ A$Conversation$with$Biren$Ghose$ 12$ Exploration$ What$Entrepreneurs$can$Learn$from$Artists$ 20$ Point$of$View$ Leonardo$Previ:$Looking$For$Innovation$ 24$ Happenings$ Training$The$Eye:$Art$Education$in$Medicine$and$Management$ 28$ Point$of$View$ Dr.Cathryn$Lloyd:$A$Culture$of$Creativity$ 33$ Book$Review$ What$If$ 39$ And$In$The$End$ $ 43$ ' ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
- 7. 7" And! the! most! interesting! finding! emerged! 9! Creativity! is! the! most! important!leadership!quality,!according!to!CEOs.$$ $ Successful$CEOs$and$their$companies$practice$and$encourage$experimentation$and$innovation$ throughout$ their$ organizations.$ Creative$ leaders$ expect$ to$ make$ deeper$ business$ model$ changes$to$realize$their$strategies.$To$succeed,$they$take$more$calculated$risks,$find$new$ideas,$ and$keep$innovating$in$how$they$lead$and$communicate.$ $ $ Creative$leaders$invite$disruptive$innovation,$encourage$others$to$drop$outdated$approaches$ and$take$balanced$risks.$They$are$open>minded$and$inventive$in$expanding$their$management$ and$ communication$ styles,$ particularly$ to$ engage$ with$ a$ new$ generation$ of$ employees,$ partners$and$customers.$ ! CEOs$recognize$that$leading$creatively$will$require$them$to$shed$some$long>held$beliefs.$Their$ approaches$need$to$be$original,$rather$than$traditional.$They$must$be$distinct$and,$at$times,$ radical$in$their$conception$and$execution,$not$just$marginally$better$than$existing$models$or$ methods.$Or,$as$one$Telecommunications$CEO$in$India$put$it:$“Creativity$in$everything.”$$ $ Creativity$is$often$defined$as$the$ability$to$bring$into$existence$something$new$or$different,$ but$ CEOs$ elaborated.$ Creativity$ is$ the$ basis$ for$ “disruptive$ innovation$ and$ continuous$ re> invention,”$a$Professional$Services$CEO$in$the$United$States$told$us.$And$this$requires$bold,$
- 8. " CONCURRENCE" " breakthrough$thinking.$Leaders,$they$said,$must$be$ready$to$upset$the$status$quo$even$if$it$is$ successful.$They$must$be$comfortable$with$and$committed$to$ongoing$experimentation.$$ $ Commit!to!upsetting!the!status!quo!! Standout$CEOs$expressed$little$fear$of$re>examining$their$own$creations$or$proven$strategic$ approaches.$ In$ fact,$ 74%$ of$ them$ took$ an$ iterative$ approach$ to$ strategy,$ compared$ to$ 64$ percent$ of$ other$ CEOs.$ Standouts$ rely$ more$ on$ continuously$ re>conceiving$ their$ strategy$ versus$an$approach$based$on$formal,$annual$planning.$ $ It$is$no$longer$sufficient$to$think,$manage$or$ delegate$based$on$traditional$time$horizons$ or$ strategic$ planning$ cycles.$ Both$ new$ threats$and$emerging$opportunities$require$ an$ ability$ to$ see$ around$ corners,$ predict$ outcomes$where$possible,$act$despite$some$ uncertainty,$and$then$start$all$over$again.$Of$ course,$ no$ one$ advocated$ making$ ill> considered$ judgments,$ but$ avoiding$ unnecessary$ delays$ was$ a$ recurring$ ambition.$“The$world$is$spinning$faster,”$said$a$Government$CEO$in$Australia.$“We$need$to$ keep$pace.”$ $ Break!ground!with!new!business!models! To$better$understand$creative$leadership,$the$researchers$looked$more$closely$at$only$those$ CEOs$who$selected$creativity$as$one$of$three$top$leadership$qualities.$And$found$them$to$be$ much$more$prepared$to$innovate$and$between$10$and$20%$more$likely$to$pursue$innovation$ through$business$model$change.$ $ Historically,$ business$ models$ have$ changed$ from$ time$ to$ time.$ But$ now$ these$ changes$ are$ occurring$ in$ rapid>fire$ succession.$ In$ the$ words$ of$ an$ Industrial$ Products$ CEO$ in$ Japan,$ “A$ business$model$is$not$absolute,$but$must$adapt$to$environmental$change.”$CEOs$must$be$able$ to$ test,$ tweak$ and$ redesign$ their$ core$ activities$ continually.$ Today,$ partnerships,$ revenue$ models$and$a$host$of$core$business$decisions$require$modification$in$light$of$the$fast>changing$ forces$impacting$their$organizations.$To$operate$more$effectively$in$a$volatile$environment,$ creative$ leaders$ strongly$ encourage$ and$ experiment$ with$ all$ types$ of$ business$ model$ innovation.$ $ And$ it’s$ not$ sufficient$ to$ be$ prepared$ for$ it$ personally.$ They$ must$ equip$ their$ entire$ organization$to$be$a$catalyst$for$creativity.$For$most$leadership$teams,$this$requires$an$entirely$ new$set$of$capabilities.$A$Media$and$Entertainment$CEO$in$the$United$States$said,$“We$need$ to$find,$recognize$and$reward$creativity.”$$ $ CEOs' saw' the' need' to' seed' creativity' across' their' organizations' rather' than' set' apart' “creative'types”'in'siloed'departments'like'product'design.$To$benefit$from$the$diversity$of$ ideas$ each$ employee$ can$ contribute,$ Standouts$ encourage$ a$ new$ mindset$ of$ questioning.$ “Creativity!means!new!ways!of! solving!tough!problems.!Many! challenges!require!innovative! thinking.”! ('David'Rankin,'Chief'Executive,'Auckland' City' $
- 9. 9" They$invite$employees$at$all$levels$to$challenge$assumptions$based$on$past$experiences$and$ scrutinize$“the$way$we’ve$always$done$things.”$$ $ In'addition'to'leading'differently,'CEOs'and'their'teams'are'communicating'differently.$To$ communicate$with$customers$and$employees,$they$are$experimenting$with$and$assessing$the$ results$of$using$many$newer$types$of$digital$media$and$social$networking$channels.$$ $ Successful$ companies$ reported$ a$ better$ balance$ of$ communication$ approaches.$ They$ acknowledge$ the$ continued$ importance$ of$ communications$ “from$ the$ top,”$ especially$ to$ establish$clarity$of$purpose$and$company$values.$But$they$also$are$embracing$“viral”$forms$of$ communication$to$engage$those$inside$and$outside$their$organizations.$$ $ Breaking! from! the! past,! CEOs! made! a! bold! choice! in! naming! creativity! their! premier!leadership!quality.!Traditionally,!leaders!were!most!admired!for!other! qualities,!like!operational!excellence,!strategic!vision!or!engineering!big!deals.! There!is!a!strong!sense!that!CEOs!are!embarking!on!a!significant!shift,!both! personally! and! for! their! organizations! as! a! whole.! Committing! to! creativity,! they! understand! the! need! to! challenge! their! most! basic! assumptions,! and! reconceive!what!it!takes!to!be!successful! ! The'Study'Summarised'this'section'by'asking:'“Are'you'leading'creatively?”' • How$ will$ you$ develop$ the$ critical$ capabilities$ to$ enhance$ creativity$ among$ your$ leadership$team?$$ • In$ what$ ways$ can$ you$ explore,$ reward$ and$ globally$ integrate$ diverse$ and$ unconventional$points$of$view?$$ • What$is$your$approach$to$challenge$every$element$of$your$business$model$to$get$the$ most$from$currently$untapped$opportunities?$$ • How$will$you$leverage$new$communication$styles,$technologies$and$tools,$both$to$lead$ a$new$generation$of$talent$and$encourage$breakthrough$thinking?$ $ $ Any!answers?! $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Source:$http://wwwD935.ibm.com/services/in/ceo/ceostudy2010/$ $ $ $
- 10. " CONCURRENCE" " $ Let’s!Talk! Art''–'a'tool'to'Develop!Leadership.!Are'We'Ready?! $ $ Dan' Pink,' in' his' book'A' Whole' New' Mind$(2005),$argues$ that$ left>brain$ linear,$ analytical$ computer>like$ thinking$ are$ being$ replaced$ by$ right> brain$ empathy,$ inventiveness,$ and$ understanding$ as$ skills$ most$ needed$ by$ business.$ Pink$ points$ to$ Asia,$ automation,$ and$ abundance$ as$ the$ reasons$behind$the$shift.! $ Pink' says' "Logical' and' precise,' left( brain' thinking' gave' us' the' Information' Age.' Now' comes' the' Conceptual! Age' (' ruled' by' artistry,' empathy,'and'emotion."' ' Creativity$ is$ a$ core$ competency$ for$ leaders$ and$ managers,$ and$ a$ crucial$ component$ of$ the$ innovation$ equation.$ Creativity$ requires$ whole> brain$thinking;$right>brain$imagination,$ artistry$and$intuition,$plus$left>brain$logic$and$planning.$Organizations'led'by'creative'leaders' have'a'higher'success'rate'in'innovation,'employee'engagement,'change'and'renewal.$$ $ Generating$fresh$solutions$to$problems,$and$the$ability$to$create$new$products,$processes$or$ services$ for$ a$ changing$ market,$ are$ part$ of$ the$ intellectual$ capital$ that$ give$ a$ company$ its$ competitive$edge.$ $ Art!is!an!invitation!to!have!a!conversation.! Art$can$be$a$potent$catalyst$for$a$deeper$inquiry$into$business$issues,$providing$the$means$for$ 'artful$ reflection'$ in$ organizational$ development.$ As$ we$ have$ seen,$ arts$ can$ offer$ non> threatening$ social$ environments$ that$ foster$ non>judgmental$ exchange$ of$ ideas,$ reduces$ chances$of$conflicts$and$offers$variety$and$alternatives$to$all$parties$to$look$into.$Through'art' we' can' make' it' safe' ask' the' deeper' questions' that' lead' to' the' emotional' truth' about' a' Medical'Students.' Buddying'MBAs.' Business'Leaders.' Everyone'is'Getting'a' Dose'of'Arts!' And!it!isn’t!to! improve!their! handwriting!' $
- 11. 11" situation.'Art'creates'a'bonding'experience'that'facilitates'collaboration'and'accelerates'the' ability'get'to'the'heart'of'a'problem.'That'is'because'images'can'externalize'the'unconscious' and'make'tacit'knowledge'visible,'to'be'explored'further.$ $ Firstly,$the$fundamental$idea$is$that$by$exposing$people$to$arts$and$to$the$artistic$process$ creation,$ people’s$ skills$ can$ grow,$ particularly$ in$ domains$ such$ as$ design,$ creativity$ and$ imagination,$ personal$ communication$ and$ improvisation.$ In$ today’s$ complex$ and$ fast> changing$ business$ context$ (think$ VUCA)$ these$ competences$ are$ becoming$ increasingly$ important$ as$ essential$ features$ of$ knowledge$ workers’$capabilities.$For$example,$improvisation$ is$ a$ managerial$ skill$ that$ is$ acknowledged$ as$ an$ important$ factor,$ grounding$ the$ ability$ to$ respond$ spontaneously$ and$ under$ pressure$ to$ problems$ and$ opportunities$ as$ they$ arise$ (Crossan,$1997).$$ $ Secondly,$arts$and$the$artistic$process$have$been$ used$ to$ address$ the$ development$ of$ more$ complex$capabilities$such$as$leadership$and$self> management.$Leaders$can$learn$a$lot$from$artists$ and$ the$ artistic$ process,$ like$ for$ example,$ “the$ courage$to$see$the$reality$as$it$actually$is$[..];$the$courage$to$envision$previously$unimagined$ and$unimaginable$possibilities;$and$the$courage$to$inspire$others$to$bring$possibility$back$to$ reality”$(Adelr,$2006).$ $ Finally,$arts$learning$experiences$stimulate$and$develop$group$and$collaborative$learning.$This$ is$the$case$particularly$of$experiences$based$on$ensemble$arts,$which$push$people$to$feel$a$ sense$ of$ responsibility$ to$ a$ group$ and/or$ to$ a$ project$ (Fiske,$ 1999).$ Indeed,$ theatre$ productions,$music$ensembles,$dance$presentations,$collaborative$creative$writing$and$group$ paintings$are$all$examples$of$group$activities$involving$group$members’$learning$process.$ $ Learning$in$the$arts$encourages$the$development$of$cognitive$capacity$and$the$ability$to$learn$ in$other$domains$(Deasy,$2002;$Fiske,$1999).$In$this$light,$even$if$there$are$some$empirical$ difficulties$to$prove$from$a$quantitative$perspective$the$existence$of$transferring$knowledge$ from$ arts$ to$ other$ fields,$ qualitative$ and$ theoretical$ implications$ show$ that$ skills$ learnt$ through$art$education$can$benefit$other$capabilities$and$professional$skills$(Perkins,$1994).$ ! ! ! Sources:$$ 1. A$Whole$New$Mind:$Moving$from$the$Information$Age$to$the$Conceptual$Age.$Daniel$H.$Pink$ 2. The$Value$of$ArtDBased$Initiaves.$Professor$Giovanni$Schiuma$ 3. Organizational$Improvisation.$Miguel$Pina$E.$Cunha,$Ken$Kamoche$ 4. Critical$Links:$Learning$in$the$Arts$and$Student$Academic$and$Social$Development.$Richard$Deasy$$ 5. The$Arts$and$the$Creation$of$Mind.$By$Elliot$Eisner$ 6. Champions$of$change$:$the$impact$of$the$arts$on$Learning.$By$$Edward$B$Fiske! Arts!play!a!fundamental! role!in!the!development! of!cognitive!capacities,! including!perception,! elaboration,!problem! solving,!and!creative! thinking.$$ "
- 13. 13" ! ! ! tête9à9tête! ! A!Conversation!with!Biren! Ghose,!Country!Head,! Technicolor!India,!and! President,!ABAI.! ' !! ! ! ! ! ! Biren'spoke'to!Pratima!Choudhury!of! The!Painted!Sky!on'how'Innovation'and' Arts'go'together.! ! ! ! PC:!Biren,!how!has!2014!been!for!Technicolor!in!India?!What!are!some!of!the!significant! achievements!and!milestones?!Creatively,!and!businesswise.! ! BG:$2014$has$been$an$exceptional$year$for$Technicolor$India$and$its$constituent$studios$MPC;$ DreamWorks$ Animation;$ Rockstar$ Games;$ Nickelodeon;$ EA;$ among$ other$ prominent$ client$ hubs.$$$ $ I$have$been$at$the$helm$of$the$India$entity$of$our$Company$and$played$a$role$as$a$catalyst$in$ building$this$studio$[over$the$past$5+$years].$I$feel$overwhelmed$and$privileged$to$have$had$ the$opportunity$to$steer$our$teams$towards$this$incredible$evolution.$The$key$to$our$strategy$ was$to$integrate$and$align$the$creative$and$business$processes$of$the$‘local$Company’$to$act$in$ ‘synchromesh’$with$the$global$Technicolor$and$its$client$organizations$each$with$their$unique$ identity$and$culture.$$ $ Creatively$the$team$worked$to$bring$home$the$Oscar$for$VFX;$the$Cannes$Gold;$a$few$Emmy’s;$ many$British$Arrows,$BAFTAS$among$various$other$awards$and$accolades.$The$creative$edge$of$ the$studio$constantly$‘raises$the$bar’$to$wow$audiences$and$the$‘products’$worked$on$by$the$ team$in$2014$have$grossed$well$over$a$US$5+$billion$in$revenue.$ $ Of$paramount$importance$was$to$transform$the$‘way’$we$worked$to$align$with$the$values,$ knowledge$and$behaviors$of$our$100$year$old$Hollywood$parent.$$ $
- 14. " CONCURRENCE" " If$we$told$you$that$our$work$seen$on$screen$in$this$past$year$included$Godzilla;$X>Men$–$Days$ of$ Future$ Past;$ Spiderman$ II;$ Maleficent;$ Guardians$ of$ the$ Galaxy;$ Night$ at$ the$ Museum;$ Exodus;$Penguins$of$Madagascar;$Grand$Theft$Auto$V;$All$Hail$King$Julian;$Puss$N$Boots;$Alvin$ and$the$Chipmunks;$among$many$others,$would$that$be$evidence$of$the$“creative$chops”$we$ have$developed$as$a$team$@Technicolor$and$MPC?$ $ PC:'What'are'some'strategies'and'tools'adopted'at'Technicolor'to'promote'Creativity'and' Innovation' among' its' employees?' How' have' these' approaches' and' processes' impacted' productivity'and'creativity'at'Technicolor?' ' BG:' ' We$ understand$ the$ individual$ in$ every$ one$ of$ our$ 1800$ strong$ team$ within$ the$ Technicolor$India$organization$and$yet$all$the$micro$teams$in$various$divisions$&$businesses$ need$to$’fly$elegantly$in$formation’.$We$additionally$manage$work$remotely$through$another$ 500>1000$ people$ externally$ in$ our$ production$ ecosystem$ in$ the$ conduct$ of$ our$ day>to>day$ business.$$ $ It$has$been$our$job$to$develop$and$nurture$an$adaptive$&$fluent$leadership$style.$$We$believe$ in$an$authentic$and$transparent$client$&$partner$interface.$$Our$style$is$to$engage$in$a$dynamic$ and$‘real$time’$manner$with$clients$and$employees,$telling$them$‘like$it$is’”;$ensuring$they$are$ served$the$optimum$blend$of$information$and$insights.$$ $ While$promoting$these$ideas,$we$have$attempted$to$reduce$the$‘social$distance’$separating$ individuals$at$the$level$of$the$‘production$floor’”$from$those$in$authority$>$and$embracing$an$ informal$style$and$structure.$$It$is$our$endeavor$to$“get$to$know”$people,$such$that$we$‘bridge’$ the$regional/cultural$as$well$as$‘generational’$divides.$$ $ Our$studio$leadership$is$not$just$about$creating$‘image$driven$experiences’$for$audiences$in$ movies$ and$ TV,$ but$ also$ about$ ensuring$ we$ ’engineer$ real$ life$ experiences’$ within$ our$ workplace.$$Many$events$across$the$year$keep$this$spirit$alive.$ $ Our$strength$lies$in$‘listening’$to$what$the$team$needs$–$engaging$with$them$to$comprehend$ and$feed$their$‘basic$emotional$triggers’$–$which$in$a$creative$environment$is$very$different$as$ compared$to$a$conventional$manufacturing$in$industrial$sector$company.$ $ It$is$about$relaxing$and$energizing$them$through$‘fun’$but$also$go$beyond$–$to$make$them$feel$ good$about$who$they$are,$what$they$do$and$where$they$do$it.$For$us$‘better,$quicker$&$faster’$ is$ not$ a$ buzzword$ –it$ is$ an$ outcome$ of$ our$ approach$ to$ human$ development,$ technology$ deployment$and$a$constantly$upgraded$infrastructure.$$$
- 15. 15" PC:' What' does' the' next' decade' hold' for' the' animation'business'in'India?' ! BG:$The$next$decade$looks$extremely$promising$for$ the$Indian$Animation/VFX$industry!$$ $ India$ is$ progressively$ becoming$ an$ ‘active$ ingredient’$ in$ the$ ‘global$ production$ recipe’$ for$ producing$animation/VFX$content.$There$has$been$ an$incredible$increase$in$the$number$and$quality$of$ projects$undertaken$by$local$production$studios$for$ international$studios.$$ According$ to$ the$ FICCI>KPMG$ 2015$ report,$ the$ Indian$ Media$ &$ Entertainment$ industry$ will$ earn$ INR$ 2$ trillion$ for$ its$ creativity$ by$ 2019$ (the$ 2015$ revenues$ are$ pegged$ at$ INR$ 1.2$ trillion$ this$ year).$ The$ VFX,$ Animation$ and$ Gaming$ business$ constitutes$ about$ INR$ 80$ billion$ [2015]$ and$ is$ poised$to$grow$by$approximately$16%$CAGR$for$the$ next$5$years.$The$animation/VFX$industry$is$about$8%$of$the$global$industry.$About$a$decade$ ago,$India$was$not$even$a$single$digit$of$the$world’s$market$share$in$this$sector.$This$speaks$ volumes$for$the$inventiveness$of$India’s$entrepreneurs$and$the$innate$ability$of$local$talent$to$ embrace$the$complexities$of$producing$such$digital$content.$ The$recognition$provided$to$the$Animation,$Gaming$and$Visual$Effects$industry$by$the$Indian$ government$in$the$last$Union$Budget$announcement,$bodes$well$for$the$sector.$The$need$of$ the$hour$is$to$leverage$this$opportunity$and$work$‘hand>in>hand’$with$the$Government$(both$ centre$and$state)$and$Academia$(both$international$and$local)$to$raise$‘standards$and$best$ practices’$so$that$the$local$industry$can$rise$to$the$next$level$of$quality$and$technology.$ ' PC:'If'we'can'broaden'the'discussion,'in'your'view,'how'does'creativity'help'an'organization' evolve,'both'for'business'sustenance'and'growth?'And'what'can'an'organization'get'from' encouraging'creativity'to'understand'and'decode'the'current'VUCA'environment?'' ' BG:$$In$the$adult$world,$we$need$to$constantly$motivate$ourselves$to$keep$rediscovering$our$ childlike$curiosity.$$To$always$try$and$understand$the$‘why$–$what$–$when$–$where$–$how’!$$In$ the$creative$industries,$this$happens$quite$‘literally’,$as$we$find$ourselves$addressing$creative$ expectations$and$imagery$that$exists$only$in$the$Director’s$mind.$$Our$Herculean$task$then,$is$ to$help$him/her$to$bring$this$vision$to$‘life’.$$$ $ The! world! leading! production! houses! have! developed! the! technical! &! creative! chops! to! decode!this!context!into!content.!!The!essence!of!this!new!story!telling!is!now!influencing!all! communication.!! “It!is!about!relaxing!and! energizing!them! through!“fun”!but!also! go!beyond!–!! to!make!them!feel! good!about!who! they!are,!what! they!do!and! where!they!do!it.”%
- 16. " CONCURRENCE" " PC:'What'should'an'Organization'do'to'promote'a'culture'of'innovation/creativity'among'its' employees?'$ BG:$‘Innovation’$and$‘Creativity’$are$the$trending$buzzwords$of$our$times!$$ $ Everyone$talks$about$‘thinking$outside$the$box’$but$it’s$easier$said$than$done!$There$is$a$saying$ ’Innovation$is$creativity$with$a$job$to$do’>$and$business$success$can$only$be$achieved$when$this$ ‘job’$is$collectively$fulfilled$by$all$employees$in$a$Company$as$opposed$to$one$or$two$people$or$ a$few$groups.$$ $ The$most$important$criterion$to$achieve$a$culture$of$ innovation$ lies$ in$ an$ organization’s$ ability$ to$ embrace$failure.$In$failure$lies$the$key$to$success!$It$ makes$way$for$change,$without$which,$there$is$no$ innovation,$creativity$or$scope$for$improvement!$$ $ At$ Technicolor$ India$ –$ we$ understand$ change,$ as$ much$as$we$do$the$inherent$resistance$people$have$ to$ change.$ $ We$ understand$ that$ people$ get$ emotional$even$in$the$anticipation$of$change!$$We$ address$this$through$constant$communication$and$ presenting$our$worldview$dynamically.$$ $ $ “Michael!Michalko!in! his!seminal!work! ‘Cracking!Creativity’! contends!that!people! think!creatively!if! they!choose!to!do! so!”!! "
- 17. 17" $ This$ constant$ engagement$ and$ building$ a$ positive$ mindset,$ is$ therefore$ the$ key$ to$ what$ enables$us$to$keep$creativity$and$innovation$at$peak$levels.$We$work$with$our$global$clients$to$ ensure$that$we$communicate$to$our$team$our$future$slate$of$shows$as$far$as$possible.$ $ Apart$from$this$we$have$exciting$“group$engagements”$through$the$year$–$events$that$“break$ the$ice”$and$help$the$team$to$connect$beyond$working$on$a$production.$$Regular$town$halls,$ client$interface$and$annual$events$aid$the$process.$ $ We$pride$ourselves$on$marking$their$achievements$through$multiple$rewards.$Nothing$‘feeds$ the$soul’$better$than$artistic$recognition$and$this$triggers$greater$levels$of$involvement$and$ energy.$$ $ PC:!We!are!keen!to!explore!how!learning!from!the!world!of!the!arts!and!the!process!of!the! artist!can!benefit!businesses!across!the!world.!In!your!opinion,!what!are!some!key!areas!that! you! see! businesses! learn! from! the! world! of! arts! and! the! artists?! And! what! could! be! the! outcome!of!such!collaborations?! ' BG:''‘Me$&$Isaac$Newton’$was$a$1999$documentary$by$Michael$Apted$from$the$USC$which$ traced$the$creative$process$practiced$by$several$key$scientists$:$Gertrude$Elion$–$Nobel$Prize$ winner$for$an$anti>leukemia$drug$[demonstrating$innovative$and$intuitive$styles$of$creative$ intelligence];$Patricia$Wright$–$discovering$a$new$species$of$lemur$after$buying$a$monkey$from$ a$NY$pet$shop$[innovation$and$intuition$at$work];$Ashok$Gadgil$–$environmental$scientist$–$ discovering$ practical$ water$ purification$ [demonstrating$ innovation$ &$ an$ enquiring$ mindset];$ etc.$ These$ movies$ demonstrate$ the$‘symbiotic$nature’$of$how$the$arts$and$ the$ sciences$ were$ more$ closely$ connected$ than$people$gave$it$credit$for.$After$a$point$ scientific$ explorations$ reach$ a$ ‘chasm’$ and$ only$ faith$ and$ some$ significant$ creative$ leaps$can$achieve$dramatic$outcomes.$$ $ Michael$ Michalko$ in$ his$ seminal$ work$ ‘Cracking$ Creativity’$ contends$ that$ people$ think$creatively$if$they$choose$to$do$so!$The$ list$of$such$envisioned$outcomes$is$now$the$ stuff$of$several$legends!$$ ' PC:!What!are!your!expectations!from!organizations!like!The!Painted!Sky!that!promote!Art9 Based!Training!Initiatives?!How!can!they!improve!their!offerings!and!training!outcomes?!! $ BG:$In$the$past$50$years$the$world$has$understood$that$creative$intelligence$(like$intellectual$ ability)$is$not$a$matter$of$speculation$and$interpretation.$It$can$be$measured$and$developed.$ Instruments$ that$ profile$ creative$ potential$ are$ being$ honed$ for$ over$ a$ decade$ and$ help$ measure$ and$ foster$ curiosity,$ insightfulness,$ resourcefulness,$ visionary$ abilities,$ etc.$$ Stevie!Wonder’s!fight!against! blindness!and!Eric!Clapton’s! fight!against!himself!in!his! drug!addiction!are!the! music!world!heroes! that!continue!to!shine! against!different! odds.!! %
- 18. " CONCURRENCE" " Particularly$in$the$creative$world,$one$needs$consistent$fuel$to$keep$innovation,$inspiration$ and$imagination$ignited.$$$ $ The!Painted!Sky'would'do'well'to'help'folks'“find,'learn'and'apply”'their'creative'ability;'the' exploration' and' the' development' of' the' mythical' ‘right' brain’' to' help' ‘elevate’' their' fortunes'in'their'professional'and'personal'lives.'' $ “If$ you$ always$ think$ the$ way$ you$ always$ thought,$ you’ll$ always$ get$ what$ you’ve$ always$ gotten.”$We$need$to$work$with$organizations$like$The$Painted$Sky$to$break$the$mould$and$ avoid$this$pitfall!$The$average$person$has$been$taught$to$think$reproductively,$that$is,$on$the$ basis$of$similar$problems$encountered$in$the$past.$$We$need$to$paint$new$skies$from$‘blue$ skies’$in$colors$and$hire$‘never$seen’$before.$$$To$help$individuals$and$teams$dip$into$their$ inner$creativity$palate$to$create$harmonies$and$melodic$outcomes.$ $ PC:!Finally,!Biren!the!man.!Who!or!what!are!some!of!your!greatest!inspirations!from!the! creative!world?! ' BG:'My$greatest$inspiration$comes$from$those$who$have$overcome$great$odds$to$succeed$at$ the$ highest$ level.$ $ As$ stories$ of$ achievements$ unfold,$ I$ am$ energized$ by$ these$ influences.$$ From$India$I$can$call$out$Prakash$Padukone$(Badminton)$Geet$Sethi$(Billiards)$and$Mary$Kom$ (Boxing)$as$three$‘home$grown’$examples.$$It’s$not$just$what$they$have$done$but$what$they$ have$overcome$to$achieve$this$that$is$exemplary.$$Sport$is$a$great$metaphor$for$significant$ achievements$despite$hardships$and$odds.$ $ Stevie$ Wonder’s$ fight$ against$ blindness$ and$ Eric$ Clapton’s$ fight$ against$ himself$ in$ his$ drug$ addiction$are$the$music$world$heroes$that$continue$to$shine$against$different$odds.$Character$ is$the$‘muscle’$that$develops$when$facing$obstacles$and$still$making$it$to$the$top$of$the$ladder!$ ' PC:!Personally,!what!have!been!your!key!learnings,!being!both!associated!with!the!world!of! arts!and!leading!a!highly!creative!organization?!Can!the!twain!meet?! ! BG:' We$ must$ begin$ by$ understanding$ that$ it’s$ a$ myth$ to$ believe$ that$ creativity$ cannot$ be$ learned.$I$debunk$the$theory$that$you$are$either$born$creative$or$not!$$ $ Creativity$is$not$a$genetically$determined$attribute!$$ $ Every$step$of$creativity$is$a$hunch>$requiring$great$execution!$Edison$felt$his$lack$of$formal$ education$was,$in$fact,$“a$blessing”.$Hence$one$should$not$overvalue$the$Ivy$League$degrees!$ (Even$they$put$their$courses$online$for$free!)$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
- 19. 19" $ ' What'seems'to'have'evolved'as'my'recipe'for'leading'innovative'teams'and'organizations' can'be'summarized'as'follows:'' 1. Start'by'thinking'big.'Without'dreams'there'is'no'inspirational'outcome' 2. Develop'your'own'method'for'execution.'(Dream'(>'Plans'(>'Actions'(>'Results)' 3. Learn'to'optimize'at'every'step.'Test'ideas'and'then'scale'them'' 4. ‘Trim'the'sails’('Business'is'like'the'weather('changeable'without'warning!'Learn'to'‘roll' with'the'punches’'and'then'use'creative'ways'to'stretch/conserve'resources'as'required' (Important:'Don’t'use'all'your'money!)' $ $ There'is'no'cookie'cutter'method'that'works'and'these'are'just'my' own'self('motivating'mantras!' $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ It!is!not!easy!to!introduce!Biren!in!the!two!dimensions!of!a!page.!The!man!is!beyond!such!limiting! definitions.!Biren!is!Country!Head!at!Technicolor!India.!He!is!a!marketing!and!business!strategist!–! prolific!speaker!at!forums!–!an!untiring!champion!of!artistic!talent!–!a!celebrated!leader!for!award! winning!VFX!and!animation!teams!–!jazz!musician!–!media!&!entertainment!industry!advocate!and! evangelist!9!believes!that!the!arts!will!influence!the!sciences!over!the!next!decade.$ ' ' ' '' ' ' ' '
- 20. " CONCURRENCE" " Exploration! ' What'Entrepreneurs' can'Learn'from'Artists'(Adapted!from!Fortune.com,!dated!December!21,!2012)! $ Like' artists,' startup' founders' must' cultivate' creative' habits' to' see' the' world' afresh' and' create'something'new.' $ Andy$ Warhol$ knew$ it$ all$ along:$ “Good$ business$ is$ the$ best$ art.”$ And$ lately,$ a$ number$ of$ business$thinkers$and$leaders$have$begun$to$embrace$the$arts,$not$as$an$escapist$notion,$a$ parallel$world$after$office$hours,$or$a$creative$asset,$but$as$an$integral$part$of$business$—$from$ the$management$team$to$operations$to$customer$service.$ Indeed,$the$“art”$of$business$has$become$more$important$as$the$“science”$grows$ubiquitous.$ As$Big$Data$and$sophisticated$analytical$tools$allow$us$to$make$our$processes$more$efficient,$ intuition$and$creativity$are$fast$becoming$the$only$differentiating$factors$among$competitors.$ Like$ any$ “soft$ asset,”$ these$ qualities$ cannot$ be$ exploited,$ only$ explored.$ And$ like$ artists,$ innovators$must$cultivate$creative$habits$to$see$the$world$afresh$and$create$something$new.$ $ How! do! artists! think! and! behave?$ Here$ are$ 12$ traits$ that$ any$ individual$ who$ aspires$to$make$his$or$her$mark$on$the$world$should$emulate:$ $ 1.' Artists' are' “neophiles.”$They$ are$ in$ love$ with$ novelty$ and$ have$ an$ insatiable$ appetite$ for$ finding$ and$ creating$ new$ connections,$ for$ inventing$ and$ reinventing,$ even$ themselves.$ Art$ means$ changing$ the$ meaning$ of$ things$ or$ creating$ new$ meanings.$ That’s$ exactly$what$innovation$is$all$about.$ $ 2.' Artists' are' humanists.$They$ are$ experts$ of$ the$ “human$ condition”$ and$ observe$ human$desires,$needs,$emotions,$and$behavior$with$a$sharp,$discerning$eye$and$a$high$degree$ of$ empathy.$ They$ can$ feel$ with$ and$ for$ others,$ which$ should$ be$ every$ innovator’s$ distinct$ strength$as$well.$ $ 3.' Artists' are' craftspeople.$They$ “think$ by$ making”$ and$ unite$ the$ “hand$ and$ the$ head,”$as$sociologist$Richard$Sennett$describes$it.$It$has$both$a$physical$dimension$(exhibiting$ mastery$in$craftsmanship)$and$a$meta>physical$dimension$(connecting$a$new$product,$service,$ or$ business$ model$ with$ the$ broader$ zeitgeist$ and$ cultural$ climate).$ Nike’s$$Fuelband,$ for$ example,$ integrates$ software$ and$ hardware,$ and$ is$ an$ expression$ of$ our$ society’s$ growing$ demand$for$self>managed,$preventive$healthcare.$ '
- 21. 21" 4.'Artists'are'like'children.'“Every$child$is$an$artist.$The$problem$is$how$to$remain$an$ artist$once$we$grow$up,”$Pablo$Picasso$famously$said.$Artists$retain$a$child’s$unique$sense$of$ possibility$and$wonder.$Innovators$should,$too.$It$may$sound$paradoxical,$but$innovations$are$ always$nostalgic.The$most$meaningful$of$them,$although$seemingly$all$about$novelty$and$the$ future,$reconnect$us$with$a$basic$human$quest$or$even$our$childhood$dreams$(think$of$the$ iPhone$and$our$desire$to$touch,$or$sharing$sites$such$as$Facebook$$or$Pinterest,$which$cater$to$ our$innate$urge$to$share).$ $ 5.'Artists'rely'on'their'intuition.'It$may$seem$counter>intuitive,$but$intuition$is$ever$ more$important$in$the$age$of$Big$Data,$because$it$is$the$only$feature$that$is$faster$and$deeper$ than$the$massive$flow$of$real>time$information.$Nothing$comes$close$to$intuition$as$innovators$ seek$to$anticipate$trends$and$make$decisions$swiftly.$ $ 6.' Artists' are' comfortable' with' ambiguity.'By$ design,$ they$ often$ deal$ with$ things$that$are$not$measurable$and$can’t$be$easily$quantified.$Innovators,$too,$should$value$ what$may$not$be$easily$captured$in$quantitative$terms.$In$stark$contrast$to$more$mechanistic$ models$of$management,$they$must$be$able$to$tolerate$uncertainty$and$open>ended$questions.$ $ 7.'Artists'are'holistic,'interdisciplinary'thinkers.$Artists$can$connect$dots$and$ take$ things$ out$ of$ their$ original$ context.$ Likewise,$ innovators$ contextualize$ and$ re> contextualize,$ mash$ up$ and$ remix,$ and$ embrace$ new$ insights$ and$ ideas$ that$ lead$ to$ unexpected,$unlikely,$and$often$serendipitous$conclusions$(among$the$most$famous$examples$ of$such$“accidental$innovations”$are$the$pacemaker$or$3M’s$post>it$notes).$ $ 8.'Artists'thrive'under'constraints.'They$often$have$to$work$within$very$structured$ formats$ and$meet$ scarce$ resources$ with$ ingenuity.$ In$ fact,$ these$ constraints$ might$ even$ stimulate$ their$ creativity.$ Inspired$ by$ the$ phenomenon$ of$Jugaad$in$ India,$ innovation$ gurus$ like$Navi$Radjou$have$popularized$and$globalized$the$concept$of$“frugal$innovation”$(e.g.$the$ mobile$ SMS$ disaster$ response$ platform$ Ushahidi$ or$ the$ portable$ “roll>on”$ hospital$ hand> sanitizers$SwipeSense).$Frugal$innovation$has$become$the$new$hallmark$for$the$art$of$creating$ maximum$value$with$minimal$resources.$ $ 9.'Artists'are'great'storytellers.'They$tell$a$story$with$their$art$but$also$often$tell$ the$story$of$their$art.$The$same$holds$true$for$meaningful$innovations.$Great$innovators$design$ experiences$that$spark$conversation.$Just$look$at$ideas$funded$on$Kickstarter:$The$product$is$ also$the$story$of$the$product.$ $ 10.'Artists'are'conduits'and'not'“masters'of'the'universe.”'Most$artists$–$ painters,$ sculptors,$ writers,$ filmmakers,$ or$ musicians$ –$ will$ admit$ that$ they$ derive$ their$ inspiration$from$a$spiritual$sphere$that$goes$beyond$their$individual$creativity$and$skills.$This$ applies$to$innovators,$too.$Whether$they’re$spiritual$or$not,$humility$suits$them$well$as$the$ social$web$and$its$wave$of$crowd>based$collaborations$have$rendered$the$myth$of$the$lone$ genius$obsolete.$ $
- 22. " CONCURRENCE" " 11.' Artists' are' passionate' about' their' work.'In$fact,$their$work$and$life$are$ impossible$to$separate.$That$doesn’t$mean$that$innovators$need$to$be$workaholics,$but$they$ should$base$their$ideas$on$deep$beliefs.$Innovation$is$a$leap$of$faith,$and$innovators$need$to$ be$believers.$Like$artists,$they$will$often$face$rejection,$but$if$an$idea$is$not$worth$fighting$for,$ it$might$not$have$been$the$right$one$in$the$first$place.$ $ 12.'Artists'are'contrarians.'Artists$can$see$the$“cracks$through$which$the$light$gets$ in,”$as$the$old$adage$goes.$Likewise,$great$innovators$come$up$with$solutions$to$problems$ because$they$see$what$is$missing.$They$are$eccentric,$which$means$they$literally$view$things$ from$the$fringes.$Both$artists$and$innovators$see$the$world$as$it$could$be.$They$look$upon$our$ world,$as$Proust$would$say,$with$“fresh$eyes.”$You$might$also$call$that$vision.$They$are$always$ “initially$wrong”$to$be$“ultimately$right”$as$Kathryn$Schultz$wrote$in$her$book,$Being$Wrong.$ $ Like$art,$true$innovation$has$the$potential$to$make$our$lives$better.$It$connects$and$reconnects$ us$with$deeply$held$truths$and$fundamental$human$desires;$meets$complexity$with$simple,$ elegant$solutions;$and$rewards$risk>taking$and$vulnerability.$ $ However,$ businesses$ must$ refrain$ from$ designing$ innovation$ as$ a$ mere$ process.$ That$ is$ perhaps$the$golden$rule$that$artists$and$innovators$have$in$common:$new$ideas$of$worth$will$ only$come$to$those$who$allow$ample$space$and$time$for$those$new$ideas$to$develop$in$the$ first$place.$ $ Tim!Leberecht!is!the!chief!marketing!officer!of!global!design!and!innovation!firm!frog.!He!is!also!the!publisher! of!frog’s!award9winning!magazine!design!mind,!the!producer!of!the!Reinvent!Business!hackathon,!and!serves! on!the!World!Economic!Forum’s!Global!Agenda!Council!on!Values.! $ ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Source:$$http://fortune.com/2012/12/21/whatDentrepreneursDcanDlearnDfromDartists/$ ' ' ' !
- 24. " CONCURRENCE" " Point!of!View! Try$Art!$ ! Leonardo!Previ,!! President,'Triviquadrivio' Architect.'Author.'Biker.'Historian.'Thinker.'Trainer.'$ $ Leonardo!Previ!contributes!with!his!views!on!how!the!worlds!of!Arts!and!Business!can!influence!and!enrich! each!other.! ! The$concept$of$organization$is$at$the$very$root$of$modern$economy$and$for$the$early$masters$ of$economics,$organization$is$synonymous$with$order.$It$was$1776$when$Adam$Smith$literally$ invented$a$new$discipline,$the$science$of$organization.$‘The$Wealth$of$Nations’$embodied$the$ rules$behind$an$organization.$The$literature$behind$this$impossible$to$be$misunderstood$title$ soon$became$the$corner$stone$of$modern$economy$and$the$message$started$to$spread:$if$you$ want$to$be$successful$in$your$business,$you$better$be$well$organized.$$ $ At$the$very$core$of$modern$idea$of$organization$there$is$a$single$principle,$very$simple$and$ very$powerful:$the$division$of$labour.$In$other$words,$since$almost$two$and$a$half$centuries,$ being$ in$ a$ business$ implied$ being$ organized;$ being$ organized$ implied$ ability$ to$ split$ all$ business$activities$in$the$smallest$possible$denominator$in$order$to$reduce$loss$of$time$and$ increase$revenue.$This$is$order.$ $ Looking for Innovation?
- 25. 25" $ At!the!core!of!art,!lies!the!idea!of!disorder.$The$artist$breaks$the$rules$ and$transforms$everyday$certainties$into$question$marks;$and$this$is$why$we$need$the$artist.$ This$ is$ the$ way$ art$ has$ worked$ since$ the$ very$ beginning$ of$ our$ history.$ Or,$ as$ Hans$ Jonas$ suggests,$we$can$have$a$human$history$thanks$to$the$artistic$way$of$disrupting$existing$order.$$ $ In$his$beautiful$essay,$‘The$Birth$of$Art’,$Jonas$helps$us$to$understand$how$relevant$has$been$ the$ contribution$ of$ prehistoric$ painters$ to$ the$ building$ of$ a$ meaningful$ and$ collaborative$ human$ activity.$ According$ to$ Jonas,$ the$ initial$ traces$ of$ human$ distinctiveness$ can$ be$ witnessed$in$wall$paintings$that$are$dated$back$to$twenty$thousand$years.$For$a$very$long$ period,$human$being’s$vocation$has$been$centred$on$hunting$and$hoarding.$But$for$a$very$long$ period$we’ve$been$running$business$as$beasts:$behavior$based$on$instinct.$$ $ Hunting$ will$ no$ more$ be$ an$ immediate$ answer$ to$ the$ stirring$ of$ hunger;$ hunting$ will$ be$ a$ medium,$and$success$is$subject$to$skill.$Through$art$we$left$our$bestiality$behind$and$became$ humans.$The$order$of$nature$has$been$replaced$by$the$order$of$culture.$ $ Whatever$out$business$is,$we$should$keep$in$mind$that$the$cause>effect$mechanism$is$rather$ prehistoric:$as$human$beings$we$belong$to$a$much$higher$level$of$complexity.$Where$things$ are$ not$ only$ “presented”$ but$ they$ are$ always$ “re>presented”,$ as$ the$ original$ cave$ painter$ taught$to$his$astonished,$half>beast$peers.$
- 26. " CONCURRENCE" " Disorder$ entered$ into$ our$ world$ almost$ one$ thousand$ generation$ ago,$ and$ it$ is$ only$ ten$ generations$ago$that$Adam$Smith$and$his$economics>devoted$followers$started$do$worship$ order.$ $ Nevertheless,$ existing$ businesses,$ especially$ in$ multinational$ corporations$ supervised$ by$ managers,$ do$ follow$ the$ “order$ mantra”,$ with$ fairly$ good$ results.$ If$ “fairly$ good”$ is$ what$ you’re$looking$for,$order$is$the$perfect$tool.$But$if$you’re$looking$for$something$else,$and$if$ your$company$is$asking$for$something$more,$order>driven$organizations$must$accept$all$the$ weird,$ unforeseen,$ unacceptable$ that$ comes$ from$ that$ ancient$ cave$ full$ of$ prehistoric$ doodles.$ $ Apparently!nothing!is!as!far!from!business!as!art.$But$this$is$certainly$ true$only$if$we$remain$stuck$on$business$as$usual.$If$business$is$limited$to$happy$few,$who$can$ think,$ create$ and$ spread$ instructions$ while$ the$ rest$ of$ the$ company$ executes,$ then$ art$ is$ pointless.$But$if$it’s$innovation$that$you$are$looking$for,$then$you$desperately$need$art.$ $ Innovation!is!a!very!complex!phenomenon!and!there’s!no!recipe!that!guarantees!success.! Over!the!years,!innovation!among!entrepreneurs,!management!or!start9up!establishments! fail!to!take!into!account!assimilation!of!various!points!of!view.! ! Hardly$they’d$realize$that$it$is$only$through$assimilation,$new$and$better$ways$of$organizing$ will$appear.$And$this$is$exactly$the$artist’s$business:$reframe$all$the$aspects$of$reality,$in$order$ to$highlights$unraveled$faces$of$it.$ $
- 27. 27" Scientific$management$strives$to$reduce$complexity$to$a$single$point$of$view:$only$within$such$ unrealistic$reduction,$organizations$can$achieve$the$expected$order$and$can$avoid$unexpected$ events.$ On$ the$ contrary$ our$ markets$ are$ overwhelmed$ by$ increasing$ levels$ of$ higher$ complexities$and$when$scientific$management$tries$to$face$the$abundance$of$issues$which$is$ the$reality,$the$process$portrays$huge$limitations.$That’s$the$reason$why$we$should$accept$the$ idea$of$discovering$and$trying$as$many$points$of$view$as$we$can$imagine.$ $ The'majority'of'managers'are'still'afraid'of'this'kind'of'multiplication'because'they'perceive' it'as'a'loss'of'control.'But'this'“endless'reframing”'is'rapidly'becoming'the'real'competitive' advantage' for' innovative' companies.' And' this' is' where' the' artistic' experience' can' be' of' great' help,' with' its' long(lasting' confidence' with' the' value' of' diversity,' paradoxes' and' improvisations.'' $ Managers$love$numbers,$90$degrees$corners$and$straight$lines.$They$organize$priorities$within$ recognizable$charts$and$lose$their$minds$over$squared$competencies.$We$have$bad$news$for$ them:$whilst$art$can$provide$the$best$business$skill,$it’s$impossible$to$learn$this$skill$within$ business$schools.$But$there’s$also$good$news:$everyone,$without$exception,$guards$this$skill$in$ his$ own$ soul.$ Creativity$ or$ as$ we$ call$ it,$ the$ art$ of$ reframing$ is$ embodied$ in$ our$ DNA;$ it’s$ traceable$overtime$we$use$our$senses.$We$simply$have$to$make$room$for$it$within$our$picture$ perfect$Gantt$charts.$ $ $ $ $ $ Leonardo!Previ!is!quite!passionate!about!what!he!does.!And!if!one!is!Leonardo,!who!does!so!many!things,!it!is! difficult!to!find!something!he!is!not!passionate!about.!A!doctorate!in!architecture,!Leonardo!has!been!teaching! since!1989!(he!continues!to!teach!Human!Resources!Management!at!the!Catholic!University!in!Milan).!Founded! in!1996,!his!company!Trivioquadrivio!is!among!the!foremost!training!firms!in!Europe,!focusing!on!experiential! learning!initiatives!and!events.!Leonardo!is!a!Lego!Serious!Play!Certificate!Facilitator,!one!of!the!founders!of! the!Jazz!for!Business!learning!approach.!A!keen!biker,!he!travels!across!Europe!with!his!motorbike!(a!venerable! Moto!Guzzi!850!T3)!to!train!managers!in!aesthetic!intelligence.!He!has!written!five!books!and!is!working!on!the! sixth,!successfully!exploring!the!confluence!of!Art!and!Business.$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
- 28. " CONCURRENCE" " Happenings! To!See,!Observe,!Connect,!Synthesise,!Interpret.! Based'on'articles'published'in'Boston.com'(20 th 'July'2008)'and'WGBHN.com'(22 nd 'August,'2012)…' ! At'the'Isabella'Stewart'Gardner'Museum'in'Boston,'a'group'of'20('and'30(somethings'crowd' around'an'oil'painting'of'a'Spanish'dancer...' $ It$could$be$any$art$appreciation$class$from$one$of$Boston's$many$colleges$and$universities.$But$ these$are$Harvard!medical!students.$And$as$they$stare$at$John$Singer$Sargent's$'el$Jaleo',$a$ wall>length$tableau$of$Spanish>style$dancers$and$musicians,$they$take$turns$imagining$what's$ going$on$in$the$scene$before$them.$One$of$the$figures$in$the$painting$has$his$head$tilted$up$to$ the$ceiling$with$his$throat$exposed.$ $ One$ student$ says,$ "I$ think$ it$ looks$ like$ he's$ snoring,"$ and$ her$ classmates$ giggle.$ But$ she$ continues:$"I$think$he$has$his$head$back$up$against$the$wall,$I$think$he's$had$a$really$long$day$ and$he's$sleeping."$ $ These$ students$ are$ spending$ one$ afternoon$ a$ week$ at$ art$ museums,$ taking$ a$ course$ called,$"Training' the' Eye"$—$ a$ course$ that$ co>creator$ Alexa$ Miller$ hopes$ will$ help$ them$ become$better$doctors.$ $ $ $ Students'and'instructors'in'Harvard's'"Training'the'Eye"'course'spend'a'moment'just'looking' at'a'work'of'art'before'beginning'the'discussion.' Training the Eye! "
- 29. 29" In$ between$ student$ observations,$ Miller$ encourages$ them$ to$ probe$ deeper.$ When$ one$ student$ suggests$ the$ "sleeping"$ man$ could$ be$ singing$ instead,$ Miller$ says,$ "OK,$ great,$ so$ connecting$these$two$themes$that$seem$to$be$opposing$…$what$do$you$see$that$makes$you$ say$you$can$hear$the$music?"$ $ At$Harvard$Medical$School$runs$one$of$the$most$fascinating$ART>Based$Development$practices$ in$the$world,$with$a$fantastic$objective:$the'idea'is'that'by'making'all'kinds'of'observations' and' being' asked' to' think' about' why' they're' seeing' what' they're' seeing,' these' Harvard' students' will' become' more' flexible' thinkers' who' can' hold' different' possibilities' in' their' heads'before'making'a'diagnosis.' ' Fluidity$ of$ thought$ and$ getting$ comfortable$ with$ ambiguity$ are$ crucial$ in$ health$ care,$ says$ Sharon$Levine,$a$professor$of$medicine$at$Boston$University.$"If$you$don't$deal$with$ambiguity,$ you$ will$ make$ mistakes,"$ Levine$ says.$ "If$ you$ become$ fixated$ on$ one$ thing$ and$ don't$ think$ about$other$possibilities$based$on$your$physical$exam,$then$you$do$yourself$and$your$patients$a$ disservice."$ $ Think' of' this' in' terms' of' our' struggles' with' the' VUCA' world' (' dealing' with' ambiguous,' unclear' and' sometimes' conflicting' inputs.' Can' Art' help?' A' review' in' 2008' found' that' students' who' take' "Training' the' Eye"' are' able' to' make' nearly' 40%' more' clinical' observations'than'those'who'haven't'taken'the'course.'That'can'mean'fewer'tests,'cheaper' medical'care.'And'more'humanness'and'sensitive.'' ! And$Joel$Katz,$a$co>creator$of$the$Harvard$course,$observes,$"Our! anecdotal! observation! is! that!students!who!do!this!course!have!come!back!to!us!years!later!and!said,!'Oh,!I!feel!much! more!prepared!and!much!more!confident!in!my!ability!to!do!physical!exam,'".! $ Katz$and$his$colleagues$published$a$study$in$the$Journal$of$General$Internal$Medicine$showing$ that$ after$ completing$ the$ class,$ students'$ ability$ to$ make$ accurate$ observations$ increased$ 38%.$When' shown' artwork' and' photos' of' patients,' students' were' more' likely' to' notice' features' such' as' a' patient's' eyes' being' asymmetrical' or' a' tiny,' healed' sore' on' an' index' finger.' Observations' by' a' control' group' of' students' who' did' not' take' the' class' did' not' change.' ' The' most' difficult' part' of' the' class' for' the' high(achieving' Harvard' students,' Miller' said,' seems'to'be'letting'go'of'their'urge!to!find!the!one!right!answer.!"When$we$get$fixated$on$ getting$the$right$answer,$we$miss$the$diagnosis$because$it$blocks$the$ability$to$think$flexibly,"$ Miller$said.$"We$want$them$to$puzzle$through$things."! $ Away!at!Yale,!a!similar!story!is!unfolding.! ! All$first>year$students$at$the$Yale$School'of'Medicine$are$required$to$take$an$innovative$class,$ which$was$developed$by$Yale$medical$school$faculty$member$Dr.$Irwin$Braverman$and$Linda$ Friedlaender.$Ms.Friedlaender$is$also$the$curator$of$education$at$the$Yale'Center'for'British' Art,$which$houses$the$world's$largest$collection$of$British$art$outside$the$United$Kingdom.$ $ $
- 30. " CONCURRENCE" " The!visual!tutorial,!now!marking!its!16th!anniversary,!draws!together!disciplines!that!are! usually! worlds! apart! —! art! and! medicine! —! in! order! to! hone! the! observational! skills! of! future!physicians.$Braverman!and!other!experts!believe!that,!in!an!age!when!physicians!rely! heavily!on!high9tech!imaging!and!tests,!the!art!of!detailed,!careful!observation!is!getting! short! shrift.! But! detecting! small! details! can! make! all! the! difference! in! coming! up! with! accurate!diagnoses,!believes!the!Yale!faculty!member.! ! Each$ student$ gets$ 12>15$ minutes$ to$ study$ a$ painting,$ and$ describe$ what$ they$see.$In$detail.$A$ student$ from$ Nigeria,$ Oluwatosin$ Onibokun,$ wasn't$ sure$at$the$outset$of$ the$ class$ that$ her$ observational$ skills$ could$ improve$ by$ looking$ at$ the$ paintings.$$ $ By$the$end,$after$she$ had$ painstakingly$ considered$details$in$the$photographs$of$patients$that$Braverman$passed$around$a$table$for$ examination,$she$had$no$doubt$of$the$museum$tutorial's$¬benefit.$"I$paid$more$attention$to$ colors,$ shapes$ and$ sizes$ of$ skin$ blotches,$ lesions$ and$ other$ conditions,"$ she$ said.$ Her$ observational$skills$had$already$improved.$"It$was$great,"$she$said$of$the$class.$ $ Sounok$Sen,$a$student$originally$from$Maryland,$deftly$described$the$details$he$picked$out$in$ the$painting.$"That$was$fantastic,"$Friedlaender$told$him.$ $ Art!in!Management!Education! $ The$relevance$of$art>based$initiatives$for$supporting$training$processes$is$highlighted$by$their$ ever>increasing$ adoption$ in$ the$ curricula$ of$ many$ business$ schools,$ such$ as$ the$ INSEAD$ Business$School,$Warwick$Business$School,$University$of$Glasgow$Business$School,$the$IMD$ Business$School$Lausanne,$the$Cranfield$School$of$Management$and$the$F.W.$Olin$Graduate$ School$of$Business$at$Babson$College,$to$name$a$few.$These$Business$Schools$have$integrated$ the$use$of$art$initiatives$in$their$MBA’s,$Masters’$and$Executive$courses’$curriculum.$$ $ For$example,$INSEAD$is$continuing$to$build$partnerships$outside$the$business$school$world$ through$ an$ agreement$ with$ Johns$ Hopkins$ University’s$ School$ of$ Advanced$ International$ Studies,$ in$ April$ 2011.$ The$ two$ will$ launch$ a$ dual>degree$ Masters$ programme$ from$ which$ participants$ will$ graduate$ with$ both$ an$ INSEAD$ MBA$ and$ a$ Master$ of$ Arts$ from$ SAIS.$ The$ INSEAD>SAIS$programme$is$designed$for$those$who$want$to$follow$a$career$that$combines$ international$relations$and$business.$Students$admitted$to$both$programmes$will$be$able$to$ Linda'Friedlaender'(kneeling)'leads'medical'students'in'a'discussion'about'what'they'can'deduce'from' one'of'the'paintings'at'the'Yale'Center'for'British'Art,'where'she'is'curator'of'education.'
- 31. 31" complete$ the$ two$ degrees$ in$ two$ and$ a$ half$ years,$ instead$ of$ the$ three$ years$ required$ to$ complete$the$degrees$separately.$$ $ INSEAD!Dean!Dipak!Jain!said!the!dual!degree!would!“be!especially! valuable! for! those! who! seek! management! responsibilities! in! international! corporations,! financial! institutions,! economic! and! development!institutions!and!government!agencies”.! ! At$ Babson' College,$ students$ during$ their$ first$ year$ take$ arts$ lessons$ under$ the$ guide$ of$ a$ creative$ consultant,$ who$ is$ an$ artist.$ Students$ are$ taught$ to$ uses$ their$ senses$ in$ order$ to$ better$grasp$things$happening$around$them$as$well$as$to$react$to$them.$While$at$Cranfield' School'of'Management,$students$learn$how$to$become$more$receptive$by$relaxation$in$order$ to$be$able$to$let$their$imagination$run$free.$By$exposing$students$to$the$arts$and$art$processes,$ through$ a$ hands>on$ approach,$ they$ learn$ to$ be$ more$ in$ touch$ with$ their$ senses,$ feelings,$ emotions$and$thoughts.$$ $ Students'take'classes'of'puppetry,'dance'and'movement,'music,'fiction,'writing,'theatrical' improvisation,' painting' and' poetry' in' order' to' learn' how' to' handle' ambiguity,' be' more' adept'in'discovering'new'things'and'seeing'things'from'different'perspectives,'take'risks,' communicate'more'efficiently'and'improve'problem(solving'capabilities.'' ' Arts! are! therefore! recognised! as! powerful! means! to! develop! students’! imagination!and!creativity.! $ Why!Art9Based!Trainings!Work! This' is' why' Art(Based' trainings' are' so' effective.' ABTIs' open' the' eyes' of' participants' to' possibilities,' to' what' is' often' missed' or' overlooked.' The' details' make' the' difference.' Whether$ in$ Design$ Thinking$ or$ Creative$ Problem$ Solving,$ Facilitating$ Change$ or$ Managing$ Conflicts,$ABTIs$and$similar$approaches$bring$to$the$fore$possibilities$and$alternatives,$as$well$ as$ allow$ people$ to$ understand$ and$ decode$ the$ realities$ better.$ The$ experience$ is$ novel,$ enriching$and$empowering,$and$as$Katz$says,$the$learnings$stick!' $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Sources:$ 1. www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2008/07/20/monet_gauguin_using_art_to_make_ better_doctors/?page=full$ 2. http://wgbhnews.org/post/learningDmedicineDlookingDart$ 3. http://news.yale.edu/2009/04/10/classDhelpingDfutureDdoctorsDlearnDartDobservation$ 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL1b1tMNI4E$ $ $
- 32. " CONCURRENCE" " ! Point!of!View! $ A!Culture!of! !Creativity$ Innovation$and$productivity$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ (This$article$was$originally$published$in$HC$Capital$Magazine$Issue$No$11.01$2013)$ Innovation!and!productivity! " Current$thinking$from$governments$and$professional$industry$bodies$is$promoting$innovation$ as$the$key$driver$of$productivity,$wealth$creation$and$the$means$to$a$prosperous$Australia$in$ the$ 21st$ Century.$ $ The$ idea$ that$ innovation$ is$ critical$ to$ creating$ a$ more$ productive$ and$ competitive$ Australia$ is$ highlighted$ by$ the$ Australian$ Government’s$ ten$ year$ innovation$ agenda$Powering$Ideas:$An$Innovation$Agenda$for$the$21st$Century$(2009)$,$which$is$a$systems$ approach$ to$ innovation$ policy,$ entitled$ the$ ‘national$ innovation$ system’.$ $ $ There$ are$ many$ reasons$given$why$Australia$needs$to$boost$innovation$and$productivity.$$One$of$these$reasons$ is$to$make$Australia$more$globally$competitive$which$will$impact$favourably$on$our$standard$ of$living.$$There$are$also$many$reasons$given$for$why$Australia’s$innovation$performance$has$ been$ considered$ patchy$ and$ which$ has$ lead$ to$ declining$ productivity.$ $ $ Areas$ of$ concern$ include$lack$of$government$and$business$investment$in$research$and$development$and$policy$ setting.$$$ $ The$general$thinking$is$that$through$innovation$we$can$make$a$better$future$for$Australia$and$ the$rest$of$the$world.$$It$is$through$innovation$that$as$a$society$we$will$be$able$to$deal$with$the$ challenges$in$the$21st$Century,$and$also$respond$to$and$seize$opportunities.$$$Businesses$and$ governments$around$the$world$acknowledge$that$a$more$creative$workforce$is$necessary$for$ the$competitiveness$and$success$of$organisations$and$countries$in$the$global$economy.$$$We$ With! innovation! and! productivity! high! on! the! agenda!Cathryn!Lloyd!explores!why!it!is!important! for!industry!and! government!to!foster!a!learning! culture!that!supports!creativity.! % Dr!Cathryn!Lloyd!! Principal' and' Creative' Entrepreneur' of' Maverick' Mind' a' professional' learning' and' development' consultancy' based' in' Brisbane,'Australia"
- 33. 33" are$ living$ in$ complex$ and$ uncertain$ times$ and$ therefore$ our$ ability$ to$ positively$ act$ and$ respond$creatively$and$innovatively$is$indeed$necessary.$$ A$ recent$ Australian$ Institute$ of$ Management$ (AIM)$ Management$ Capability$ Index$ study$ (2012)$ ,$ based$ on$ the$ responses$ of$ senior$ managers$ from$ more$ than$ 250$ Australian$ organisations$ indicated$ a$ sound$ governance$ and$ financial$ base$ across$ Australian$ organisations.$ $ While$ there$ was$ high$ confidence$ across$ these$ areas$ managers$ consistently$ rated$ their$ performance$ poorly$ in$ areas$ related$ to$ organisational$ capability,$ innovation$ (products$ and$ services)$ and$ visionary$ and$ strategic$ leadership.$ $ While$ pressure$ is$ on$ for$ businesses$ to$ embrace$ innovation$ in$ the$ workplace$ the$ study$ proposes$ that$ these$ results$ provide$a$solid$platform$from$which$to$foster$creativity$and$innovation$as$a$central$part$of$ business$culture.$ $ If$ we$ accept$ the$ premise$ that$ innovation$ is$ essentially$a$good$thing$for$ our$ society$ then$ how$ can$ industry$ best$ support$ and$ manage$ creativity$ and$ innovation,$ foster$ creative$ innovation$skills,$and$at$the$ same$ time$ improve$ management$ and$ leadership$ skills?$ $ $ This$ article$focuses$on$business$ and$ management$ education$with$a$particular$ emphasis$ on$ the$ need$ for$ organisational$ learning$ cultures$that$build$creative$ capacity.$ $ In$ Educating$ for$ the$ Creative$ Workforce:$ Rethinking$ Arts$ and$ Education$ (2007)$ creativity$ is$ generally$ described$ as$ embodying$ generic$ attributes$ such$ as$ communication,$ team>work,$problem$solving,$cultural$understanding,$and$decision>making$skills.$$The$report$ states$that$recent$work$on$innovation$across$the$economy$suggests$that$it$is$“precisely$the$ habits$ associated$ with$ artistic$ creativity$ that$ are$ a$ vital,$ if$ neglected,$ element$ of$ current$ innovation$policy.”$$ $ If$ we$ are$ to$ develop$ a$ creative$ workforce$ it$ makes$ sense$ to$ expose$ people$ to$ learning$ experiences$that$allow$them$to$tap$into$their$intellectual$and$creative$potential.$$$Within$the$ context$of$professional$development$education$I$make$a$distinction$between$‘training’$and$ ‘learning’.$$From$a$training$perspective$it$is$assumed$that$industry$and$government$should$ provide$the$necessary$technical$skills>based$training$that$people$need$to$do$their$job.$$From$a$ learning$perspective$industry$and$government$need$to$promote$learning$cultures$that$support$ creativity.$ $ Using$ this$ as$ a$ jumping$ off$ point,$ this$ article$ proposes$ that$ arts>based$ learning$ methodologies$are$integral$to$contemporary$professional$management$education.$$There$is$ growing$evidence$through$literature$and$practice$that$this$type$of$learning$is$a$unique$vehicle$ for$providing$experiences$that$can$develop$the$attributes$linked$to$leadership,$as$well$as$the$ ability$to$innovate$and$respond$creatively$to$complex$situations.$
- 34. " CONCURRENCE" " A!National!Cultural!Policy!! ! The$development$of$a$new$National$Cultural$Policy$$in$Australia$recognises$that$the$arts$play$ an$ important$ role$ in$ driving$ innovation$ across$ the$ nation$ and$ contributing$ to$ productivity.$$ Essentially$the$idea$is$that$a$creative$nation$is$a$more$productive$nation.$$The$policy$sets$out$a$ framework$that$embeds$creative$skills$and$talent,$not$just$at$the$heart$of$cultural$life,$but$at$ the$heart$of$technological$development$and$national$economic$growth.$$$It$therefore$stands$to$ reason$that$a$creative$workforce$is$a$more$productive$workforce.$$$$ $ The$policy$recognises$the$intrinsic$value$of$arts$and$creative$activity$in$developing$a$strong$ Australian$ culture,$ society,$ and$ economy.$ $ To$ that$ end$ cultural$ policy$ is$ not$ just$ about$ supporting$ the$ arts.$ It$ is$ about$ supporting,$ enabling$ and$ strengthening$ communities$ and$ developing$a$creative$culture$that$has$the$capacity$and$capability$to$take$on$the$challenges$ and$opportunities$before$us.$$This$has$implications$for$industry.$$If'a'business'has'a'creative' and'innovative'culture'it'is'more'likely'to'be'able'to'successfully'respond'and'adapt'to'the' complex' issues' of' the' 21st' Century' and' be' more' competitive.' ' The' future' brings' great' opportunities'and'many'challenges.''Businesses'that'embrace'a'creative'learning'culture'will' reap'the'rewards'of'their'innovation'and'productivity.'' $ Creativity!and!Innovation! Creativity$ and$ innovation$ are$ contested$ and$ widely$ debated$ terms.$ $ Innovation$ is$ the$ process$ of$ implementing$ creative$ ideas.$ $ In$ New$ Pathways$ to$ Prosperity:$ a$ National$ Innovation$ Framework$ for$ Australia$ (2006)$ $ “innovation$ is$ seen$ as$ doing$ new$ things$ and$ drawing$ on$ knowledge$ or$ creativity$ to$ find$ new$ and$ better$ ways$ to$ add$ value$ to$ products,$ services$ and$ processes”.$ $ It$ is$ also$ about$ allocating$ resources$ to$ ensure$ valuable$ innovative$ideas$come$to$fruition.$$$ $ First$ and$ foremost$ innovation$ is$ about$ people.$$The$starting$point$for$innovation$ is$imagination$$along$with$the$generation$ of$ creative$ ideas$ that$ add$ value.$ $ It$ is$ people$who$have$the$creative$capacity$and$ imagination$ to$ generate$ new$ ideas$ and$ design$ new$ products,$ new$ services,$ new$ processes$and$solutions$as$well$as$making$ innovative$ improvements$ to$ existing$ products$ and$ services.$ $ We$ can’t$ really$ have$ a$ conversation$ about$ innovation$ without$ talking$ about$ creativity$ the$ two$ go$ hand$ in$ hand.$$ Creativity$is$a$source$of$knowledge$and$personal$expression.$$Within$the$context$of$this$article,$ creativity$is$used$in$its$broadest$sense$and$is$captured$in$the$following$definitions.$$$ $
- 35. 35" PricewaterHouseCoopers$ $ describes$ creativity$ as$ a$ “set$ of$ attitudes$ and$ behaviours$ that$ manifests$itself$in$different$ways$through$both$individual$and$collective$actions”.$$While$Kerr$ and$ Lloyd$ suggest$ it$ is$ a$ set$ of$ “attributes$ and$ qualities$ concerned$ with$ imagination,$ inventiveness,$ improvisation,$ insight,$ intuition,$ and$ curiosity$ [in$ other$ words]$ the$ natural$ ‘artful’$genius$and$talent$of$people”$$ $ Creativity$is$often$been$associated$with$the$arts$and$cultural$activity$when$it$is$in$fact$at$the$ heart$of$all$endeavours.$$$While$it$is$fitting$that$creativity$is$part$of$the$conversation,$as$it$is$a$ key$component$to$innovation,$what$is$challenging$about$this$is$that$creativity$is$an$elusive$ quality$that$is$hard$to$pin$down$and$define.$$The$creative$process$is$difficult,$complex$and$ confusing$ and$ this$ provides$ a$ conundrum$ for$ how$ business$ can$ best$ foster$ and$ manage$ creativity$to$help$improve$workplace$performance.$$$ $ Creative'innovation'comes'from'many'sources'including'the'arts,'science,'business,'research' and' development,' and' communities.' ' In' today’s' global' economy' the' arts' and' creative' industries'are'fundamental'to'Australia’s'identity'as'a'society'and'nation,'and'increasingly' to'our'success'as'a'national'economy.'''' $ This$links$to$the$Educating$for$the$Creative$Workforce:$Rethinking$Arts$and$Education$report$ which$states$that$the$focus$of$economic$policymakers$across$the$world$on$all$things$‘creative’$ is$driven$essentially$by$three$separate,$but$interlinked$factors.$$These$include$(i)$the$growth$of$ the$creative$and$cultural$sectors$(currently$growing$at$more$than$twice$the$rate$of$the$world$ economy$as$a$whole)$(ii)$creative$inputs$as$a$part$of$wider$innovation$policy$(creatively$trained$ labour$is$in$demand$>$think$for$instance$the$use$of$design$across$industry$sectors)$and$(iii)$the$ skills,$aptitudes,$and$ways$of$working$that$creative$practitioners$bring$to$their$practice$(team$ work,$communication$and$presentation$skills)$are$increasingly$in$demand$across$a$range$of$ workplace$environments.$$These$factors$are$relevant$as$they$highlight$a$changing$workforce$ that$has$a$need$for$increased$creative$and$emotional$intelligence.$$What$is$becoming$obvious$ is$that$the$contemporary$workplace$requires$people$who$can$think$imaginatively$as$well$as$ analytically.$$If$this$is$the$case$then$different$types$of$learning$and$training$are$necessary.$$$ $
- 36. " CONCURRENCE" " Imagining!the!Future! ! While$there$are$many$facets$that$make$up$ an$ innovative$ society$ and$ there$ are$ no$ easy$fixes$there$are$at$least$two$strategies$ worth$investigating:$ $ The$first$creative$act$is$for$businesses$to$ engage$ in$ meaningful$ and$ realistic$ discussions$ around$ creativity,$ innovation$ and$ productivity$ with$ their$ employees.$$ Simple$and$clear$dialogue$is$required$that$ outlines$what$these$concepts$mean$to$the$ organisation$ and$ to$ our$ society.$ $ People$ need$ to$ understand$ why$ it$ might$ be$ necessary$ to$ embrace$ this$ type$ of$ thinking.$ $ These$ discussions$ should$ include$ everyone$ so$ as$ to$ generate$ understanding$ as$ well$ as$ to$ motivate,$ inspire$and$empower$people$so$they$may$ be$willing$to$bring$their$full$creative$selves$ to$their$work.$ $ The$second$creative$act$is$for$businesses$ to$provide$learning$experiences$that$draw$ on$ a$ range$ of$ art>based$ methodologies$ and$ to$ also$ promote$ and$ support$ organisational$ cultures$ that$ foster$ and$ tap$ into$ the$ creative$ intelligence$ of$ people.$ $ Good' technical'skills'based'training'will'never'be'out'of'fashion'and'it'is'essential'that'businesses' and' governments' provide' the' necessary' and' appropriate' training.' However,' if' we' are' to' innovate'and'find'solutions'to'complex'issues'we'need'to'do'more'than'simply'invest'in' technical'training.''' $ Given'the'push'for'innovation'organisations'will'need'to'provide'a'culture'where:' • experiential' learning' and' development' that' utilise' arts(based' learning' methodologies'are'embedded'in'organisational'learning'and'development' • creativity'is'recognised'as'a'process'' • creativity'is'encouraged'throughout'the'organisation'' • collaboration'and'cross'fertilisation'happens'internally'and'externally' • experimentation'is'encouraged' • risk'and'failure'are'understood'as'being'part'of'the'creative'process' • curiosity'and'‘what'if’'questions'are'valued' • the'motivation'of'individuals'is'understood' • flexibility'is'offered'–'creativity'is'not'a'tap'that'can'be'turned'on'and'off' • resources'are'allocated'' ' The!second!creative!act! is!for!businesses!to! provide!learning! experiences!that!draw! on!a!range!of! art9based! methodologies! and!to!also!promote!and! support!organisational! cultures!that!foster!and! tap!into!the!creative! intelligence!of!people.!!%
- 37. 37" $ $ Looking$to$the$future,$for$Australia$to$build$a$creative$workforce$will$necessitate$a$creative$ approach.$ $ It$ no$ longer$ serves$ us$ to$ work$ in$ a$ siloed$ way.$ $ New$ industry$ relationships,$ intersections,$and$dialogues$are$needed.$$Given$the$impending$slowing$down$of$the$resources$ boom$ in$ Australia$ real$ innovation$ is$ paramount$ if$ we$ are$ going$ to$ have$ a$ productive$ and$ competitive$economy.$$The$key$to$this$is$fostering$and$valuing$a$culture$of$creativity.$ $ $ $ $ Dr! Cathryn! Lloyd! is! the! Principal! and! creative! entrepreneur! of! Maverick! Mind! a! professional! learning! and! development! consultancy.! ! Cathryn! holds! a! Doctoral! Degree! in! Creative! Industries! (Research).! ! Cathryn! is! passionate!about!working!with!businesses!to!develop!powerful!creative!learning!cultures.!!She!is!experienced! in! the! arts,! design! and! business! and! brings! an! eclectic! approach! to! her! facilitation! and! design! of! learning! experiences.!$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Sources:$ 1. Australian$Government,$Dept$Industry,$Innovation,$Science,$Research$and$Tertiary$Education,$ 2009:$$Powering$Ideas:$An$Innovation$Agenda$for$the$21st$Century$ 2. Australian$Institute$of$Management,$2012:$$Australian$Management$Capability$Index$ 3. ARC$ Centre$ of$ Excellence$ for$ Creative$ Industries$ and$ Innovation,$ 2007:$ $ Educating$ for$ the$ Creative$Workforce:$Rethinking$Arts$and$Education$$ 4. Australian$ Government,$ Dept$ of$ the$ Prime$ Minister$ and$ Cabinet$ Office$ for$ the$ Arts,$ 2011:$ National$Cultural$Policy$Discussion$paper$ 5. Business$ Council$ of$ Australia,$ 2006:$ $ $ New$ Pathways$ to$ Prosperity:$ A$ National$ Innovation$ Framework$for$Australia$ 6. PriceWaterhouseCoopers,$2005:$$Cities$of$the$Future:$global$competition,$global$leadership$ 7. Kerr$and$Lloyd,$2008:$$Pedagogical$learnings$for$management$education:$Developing$Creative$ and$Innovation,$Journal$of$Management$and$Organization$ 8. ABS$2011$Competition,$Innovation$and$Productivity$in$Australian$Businesses$(Research$paper)$ http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/896C28E59CC4B822CA257905001 4C578/$File/1351055035_sep%202011.pdf$ 9. Business$Council$of$Australia,$2011:$Vision$and$Values$(annual$review)$ 10. Business$Council$of$Australia,$2012:$$One$Country.$Many$Voices$(annual$review);$$ 11. HCA$Online$2012$ $
- 38. " CONCURRENCE" " Book!Review$ ! 'What!If'!by!Randall!Munroe$$ Physics$can$be$Fun!$With$questions$like$this:$If$everyone$on$the$planet$ stayed$away$from$each$other$for$a$couple$of$weeks,$wouldn't$the$ common$cold$be$wiped$out?$ $ Hmmmm.$ $ Sample$this:$what$would$happen$if$you$tried$to$build$a$ physical$model$of$the$periodic$table$of$the$elements,$ in$which$each$element$was$represented$by$an$actual$ brick$of$the$substance$in$question?$You$could$probably$ construct$ the$ first$ two$ rows$ successfully.$ But$ then$ your$problems$begin.$The$third$row$catches$fire,$and$ the$ fourth$ kills$ you$ with$ toxic$ gas.$ The$ fifth$ adds$ a$ lethal$ dose$ of$ radiation,$ while$ the$ sixth$ explodes$ violently.$ What$ about$ the$ seventh?$ Follow$ Randall$ Munroe's$advice:$"Do$not$build$the$seventh$row."$ $ With$ laconic$ humour$ and$ clear$ thinking$ Randall$ Munroe$ tries$ to$ use$ science$ to$ explain$ absurd$ questions,$ raised$ by$ five>year$ olds.$ $ And$ makes$ the$ book$a$super$read.$He$not$just$answers$and$explains,$ but$ goes$ beyond$ and$ connects$ dots$ and$ talks$ of$ implications$and$ramifications.$This$is$creativity$of$the$ highest$order$–$simplification$and$synthesis.$$ $ As$Steven$Poole,$author$of$‘Yoy$Aren’t$What$You$Eat’$points$out$in$the$Wall$Street$Journal:$ “Mr.$Munroe$leavens$the$hard$science$with$whimsical$touches.$Investigating$how$far$you$can$ throw$something$vertically,$he$announces:$"I$will$give$these$heights$in$units$of$giraffes."$He$ enjoys$ the$ amusingly$ brutal$ payoff.$ (What$ would$ happen$ if$ you$ tried$ to$ fly$ an$ electrically$ powered$aeroplane$on$Venus?$"Your$plane$would$fly$pretty$well,$except$it$would$be$on$fire$ the$whole$time.$.$.$.$Venus$is$a$terrible$place.")$He$also$pokes$fun$at$some$conventions$of$ Internet>age$ scholarship.$ Anyone$ who$ is$ familiar$ with$ seeing$ the$ superscript$ "[citation$ needed]"$at$the$end$of$a$sentence$on$Wikipedia,$for$example,$will$enjoy$Mr.$Munroe's$habit$of$ appending$it$to$perfectly$uncontroversial$claims,$such$as$that$"Falling$from$great$heights$is$ dangerous.$[citation$needed]"$or$"A$mole$(the$animal)$is$small$enough$for$me$to$pick$up$and$ throw.$[citation$needed]."”$ $ $ $ $ $ $
- 39. 39" "What' If?"' began' as' a' series' on' Munroe's' website,' in' which' he' pedantically' applied' his' considerable' scientific' expertise' (he' once' worked' on' robots' at' NASA)' to' apparently' ridiculous'questions'sent'by'readers.'Some'of'the'best'online'examples'are'collected'here,' along'with'many'new'ones.'Asked'what'would'happen'if'you'tried'to'hit'a'baseball'that'was' moving'at'90%'of'the'speed'of'light,'the'author'states:'"I'sat'down'with'some'physics'books,' a'Nolan'Ryan'action'figure,'and'a'bunch'of'videotapes'of'nuclear'tests."'(The'reference'to' nuclear'tests'is'an'early'clue'that'this'scenario'is'not'good'news'for'the'batter.)' $ And$with$some$terrific$illustrations!$ $ $ I!heard!a!great!interview!on!NPR!in!September!2014.!Here!are!the! excerpts,!that!say!it!all!!! ! On!the!best!kinds!of!outlandish!questions$ Some$of$my$favorite$questions$actually$come$from$parents$submitted$on$behalf$of$their$little$ kids.$...$I$find$that$the$questions$from$adults$are$more$like$they're$trying$to$be$as$wacky$as$ possible,$ but$ the$ kids$ ask$ very$ simple$ questions$ that$ sometimes$ have$ kind$ of$ surprising$ consequences.$ $ Like,$one$guy$wrote$in,$he$said:$My$daughter$wants$to$build$a$billion>story$building.$I$haven't$ been$able$to$convince$her$...$that$this$is$not$possible,$and$so$maybe$you$can$take$a$crack$at$it.$ And$so$I$wrote$an$article,$you$know,$explaining$to$her,$you$know,$if$you$try$to$build$a$building$ progressively$higher,$here$are$the$problems$you're$gonna$run$into:$eventually$it$gets$so$tall,$ you$know,$that$it$collapses;$but$then$you$figure$out$a$way$to$build$it$stronger;$but$then$it$gets$ so$tall$that$it's$sticking$out$into$orbit$and$satellites$start$colliding$with$it.$You$know,$and$then$it$ takes$you$through$all$these$different$interesting$physics$ideas.$ $ On!whether!his!scientific!answers!take!the!fun!out!of!a!question's!fantasy$ I$think,$you$know,$maybe$a$billion>story$building$there$are$some$logistical$problems$you$run$ into.$But$at$the$same$time,$you$get$to$paint$this$picture$of$these$orbiting$stations$and$this$
- 41. 41" because$ everyone$ is$ already$in$Rhode$ Island.$ It$ turns$ out,$ within$ a$ matter$ of$ a$ couple$ of$ weeks,$Rhode$Island$would$be$the$graveyard$of$most$of$the$human$race$in$this$scenario.$ ! On! the! "weird! and! worrying"! questions! he! includes! in! the! book! but! doesn't! answer,! like! "How! fast! would! a! human! have! to! run! in! order! to!be!cut!in!half!at!the! belly! button! by! a! cheese9cutting!wire?"$ Yeah,$ that's$ in$ a$ category$ of$ question$ that$ I$ haven't$ answered$ because$ I$ don't$want$to$think$about$that.$It's$just$like$—$my$skin$crawls$imagining$that.$Another$question$ like$that$was,$"How$cold$would$your$teeth$have$to$get$in$order$for$a$cup$of$hot$coffee$to$make$ them$shatter$on$contact?"$And$that's$a$question$I've$never$gotten$past$just$the$initial$mental$ image.$ $ On!his!own!what9if!questions$ I'm$looking$at$a$studio$and$I$might$think,$if$I'm$daydreaming$in$between$taping,$you$know:$ What$if$I$filled$this$studio$with$water?$Would$the$windows$be$strong$enough?$...$How$many$ play$pen$balls$would$it$take$to$fill$it$if$you$wanted$to$make$a$ball$pit$here?$How$much$would$ that$cost?$ $ ______$ $ $ So$his$work$becomes$an$illuminating$handbook$of$methods$of$reasoning$from$first$principles:$ work$ by$ analogy,$ perform$ very$ rough$ orders>of>magnitude$ calculations,$ or$ try$ to$ flip$ perspectives.$ Of$ course$ it$ helps$ to$ know$ some$ basic$ science,$ too.$ And$ learning$ Newtonian$ mechanics$ is$ surely$ more$ fun$ when$ you$ are$ figuring$ out$ how$ to$ build$ a$ jetpack$ using$ downward>firing$machine$guns.$(Ideally,$it$turns$out,$you'd$want$at$least$300$AK>47s.)$ $ A$great,$fun$read.$ $ $ $ $ $ Sources:$ 1. https://whatDif.xkcd.com/$ 2. http://www.wsj.com/articles/bookDreviewDwhatDifDbyDrandallDmunroeD1411160673$ 3. http://www.npr.org/2014/09/07/346082579/whatDifDthereDwereDanDentireDbookDdevotedDtoD absurdDhypotheticals$
- 42. " CONCURRENCE" " And!in!the!end! ! Almost! 70! years! ago,$in$1956,$Louis$R.$Mobley$built$the$IBM$Executive$School$to$ make$IBM$senior$managers$more$creative.$He$focused$on$6$key$principles$to$drive$home$his$ agenda,$ that$ aimed$ not$ just$ at$ teaching,$ but$ also$ transforming.$ These$ principles$ are$ highly$ relevant$today$–$they$made$IBM$a$great$company.$In$a$Forbes$article,$August$Turakk$outlined$ these$principles$nicely.$Adapted$from$there:$they$are$simple,$and$can$be$adapted$by$each$of$us$ in$our$daily$lives.$$ 1. Creative$people$rarely$rely$on$traditional$teaching$methods$(reading,$lecturing,$testing,$ memorizing),$which$are$found$to$be$worse$than$useless;$they$are$counter$productive,$ they$build$‘boxes’.$ 2. Creative$people$are$constatnly$on$an$UNLEARNINg$process,$not$learning$–$you$need$to$ abandon,$discard,$destroy$and$trash$beloved$assumptions.$ 3. Creative$ people$ don’t$ learn,$ they$ become!$ You$ cannot$ learn$ to$ become$ creative.$ Instead,$ you$ BECOME$ a$ creative$ person$ behaviorally,$ by$ your$ actions.$ You$ transform$ yourself.$By$action$learning,$constant$effort$and$practice,$you$find$solutions$to$problems$ that$are$totally$unobvious.$Practice$creative$thinking,$in$everything!$ 4. Creative$people$hang$around$with$creative$people.$That’s$the$fastest$way$to$generate$ creative$ ideas$ –$ because$ creativity$ is$ infectious.$ Association$ makes$ an$ enormous$ difference.$ 5. Creative$people$are$honest$about$themselves.$Creativity$is$highly$correlated$with$self> knowledge.$If$you$don’t$know$what$your$own$inner$biases$are,$you$cannot$overcome$ them.$Mobley’s$school$was$one$“big$mirror”.$ 6. Creative$people$give$themselves$permission,$and$others,$TO$BE$WRONG.$$$Fail$fast$to$ succeed$ early,$ is$ the$ principle.$ There$ are$ no$ bad$ ideas,$ only$ building$ blocks$ to$ good$ ideas,$as$Edison$believes$and$practiced.$ ! ! ! ! Source:$http://www.forbes.com/sites/augustturak/2011/05/22/canDcreativityDbeDtaught/$ ! $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $