A recent IBM global survey of executives identified creativity as one of the most crucial skills in today’s turbulent business climate. In the innovation age it is no longer possible for organizations to survive strictly through continuous improvement and cost cutting strategies. And because unprecedented levels of change define life in the 21st century, many now agree that creative thinking is an essential leadership skill. The purpose of this keynote session is to challenge the widely held belief that you are either born creative or your not, and instead demonstrate how creative thinking can be enhanced. The goal of the session is to challenge participants to think more creatively about themselves and their organizations

1. Creativity Matters:
Why Creativity is a Business
Essential and How to Develop It
Gerard J. Puccio, Ph.D.
International Center for Studies in Creativity
Buffalo State - State University of New York
Distinguished Visiting Scholar - Sheridan
The Social Business Forum
• Employee Empowerment
• Customer Engagement
• Collaborative Innovation

2. International Center for Studies in
Creativity
Buffalo State – State University of New York
Fast Facts
• Founded 1967
• Offer MS in Creativity
• Certificate in Creativity
and Change Leadership
• Program for Distance
Learners
• Over 500 alumni
• CRS Library Collection

3. International Center for Studies in
Creativity
Buffalo State – State University of New York
Other Programs
• Creativity Camp
• Creativity in America
short course
• Latin America
Certificate Program

4. Welcome to the
Age of Innovation
1950-1960s
Age of Efficiency
1970-1980s
Age of Quality
1980-1990s
Age of Flexibility
Today
Age of Innovation
(& Creativity)

5. Corporations with Innovation in their
Vision, Values, Strategic Plan

6. Believe creativity is important to
society

7. Employees who believe they are
living up to their creative potential

10. GREEN RED BLUE GREEN
BLUE YELLOW ORANGE
RED BLACK BLUE RED
GREEN RED BLUE GREEN
ORANGE GREEN ORANGE
BLACK YELLOW BLACK
BLUE RED GREEN BLUE
ORANGE BLUE ORANGE

11. Creativity
Matters

12. Creativity is...
the ability to modify
self-imposed constraints.
Ackoff & Vergara (1988)

13. Let’s Do Some Math
1000
40
1000
30
1000
20
1000
10
4100

14. Creativity is an Ability
Ability implies…

15. Creativity is an Ability
Ability implies…
• All people are creative

16. Creativity is an Ability
Ability implies…
• All people are creative
• People vary in regard to their
creative ability

17. Creativity is an Ability
Ability implies…
• All people are creative
• People vary in regard to their
creative ability
• Whatever your level of creative
ability it can be enhanced

18. Classic Definitions
Creativity is a process that
leads to the production
of original ideas
that are valuable
Innovation is the successful
introduction of new & valuable ideas

19. “It was a crazy idea –
a breakfast
sandwich!”
Approximately 30% of
McD’s revenue comes
from breakfast
4 billion in sales annually
from breakfast business
Strategic growth aimed at
breakfast market

20. How to be a Better
Creative Thinker

21. Separate Divergent from
Convergent Thinking
Area of
Discovery
Area of
Discovery
AreaofFamiliarity

22. Taking it Forward

23. Thank You
http://creativity.buffalostate.edu/