The Manager's Guide to Fostering Innovation and Creativity in Teams | Briefcase

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The Manager's Guide to Fostering Innovation and Creativity in Teams

The Manager's Guide to Fostering Innovation and Creativity in Teams

Authors: Charles Prather

Published: August 2009

eISBN: 9780071713474 0071713476 | ISBN: 9780071627979

Contents

Preface

1. The Innovative Organization

The Three Arenas of Innovation Competence

Categories of Innovation: Finance, Process, Offerings, Delivery

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 1

2. Innovation 101

Use the Right Process for the Problem

Innovative Problem Solving

Role of Divergent and Convergent Thinking

The Five Pitfalls That Hinder Innovation

Skills Needed by New Product Team Leaders

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 2

3. Creative Thinking

Cultivating Natural Creativity

Ideas from Brainstorming

The Ladder of Abstraction and Idea Generation

Ideas from Pattern-Breaking Thinking

Ideas from Suggestion Systems

TRIZ—Left-Brained Idea Generation

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 3

4. Process of Innovative Problem Solving

Phases of the Process

Example of Success: An International Publisher

Example of Success: Whirlpool Corporation

Example of Success: United Way

Attributes of Successful Facilitators of Innovation

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 4

5. Developing a Challenge Statement

Understand the Situation

Craft the Challenge Statement

Clarify What You Really Want—The Four Quadrants

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 5

6. Defining the Right Problem

WIBNI—The Self-Seeking Process

Conversion to Problem Statements

The Magic of Criteria in the Selection Process

Selecting the Right Problem

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 6

7. Brainstorming to Empty the Box

The Process

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 7

8. Thinking Out of the Box: Breaking Patterns

Experience the Power of Pattern-Breaking Thinking

Requirements for Pattern-Breaking Thinking

Creative Thinking Tools

Idea Pool

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 8

9. Convergence and Implementation

Staged Criteria Process

Convergence Process

Opportunity for Personal Commitment

Idea Implementation

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 9

10. Setting the Climate for Innovation

The Essence of the Right Climate

Intrinsic Motivation and Extrinsic Motivation

Hygienic Factors and Motivating Factors

Power of Intrinsic Motivation

Dimensions of the Climate for Innovation

Implement Ideas

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 10

11. Leading Innovation in Teams

Develop a Social Contract to Set Expectations

Ensure Organizational Alignment

Maximize the Value of a Compelling Mission/Vision

Lead Change

Create a Self-Sustaining Culture of Innovation

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 11

12. Getting the Right People into the Right Jobs

Jobs Are All About Solving Problems

Job Demand for Problem-Solving Style

Jobs on a Continuum

Calculating Coping Energy, E = dt

Options for Dealing with Coping Stress

Styles on a Team

Valuing the Differences in Problem-Solving Style

Making Problem-Solving Style Diversity Work for Your Team

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 12

13. Coaching for Innovation

Flexibility in Leadership Style

Four Leadership Styles for Creativity and Innovation

Caring Creates Curiosity and Discovery

Theory X and Theory Y and the Leadership Style Continuum

What About the Team Members’ Perspective?

Making the Transformation to Coach Leader

Transformation at a Financial Institution

Practices for Transforming to a Coach Leader

Demonstrating Caring Led to Breakthroughs

Breakthrough Products at a Major U.S. Corporation

Leader Coaches Involve People All the Way

Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 13

Appendix Worksheets

Worksheet #1. Clarifying Benefits

Worksheet #2. Overcoming Concerns

Worksheet #3. Identify Critical Tests

Worksheet #4. Tree Diagram

Worksheet #5. Who Will Do What by When?

Index