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CreativityRemove Creativity →

New research from Harvard Business School faculty on issues including the effect of competition on workplace creativity, collaboration and creativity, and managing creative people.
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'Fortnite' Was a Blockbuster for Epic Games. What’s the Encore?

Re: Andy Wu

Epic Games, maker of the incredibly popular "Fortnite" multiplayer game, considers whether to become a PC-games distribution platform. Andy Wu discusses his case study, “Epic Games.” Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Managerial Recognition as an Incentive for Innovation Platform Engagement: A Field Experiment and Interview Study at NASA

by Jana Gallus, Olivia S. Jung, and Karim R. Lakhani

What gets workers to go the extra mile in creative problem solving? A field experiment and interviews with NASA employees finds that employees respond to managerial appreciation above other incentives.

For Better Ideas, Bring the Right People to the Brainstorm

by Michael Blanding

Better ideas emerge when extroverts and people open to new experiences put their heads together, according to research by Rembrand M. Koning. But what about introverts? Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Crowdsourcing Is Helping Hollywood Reduce the Risk of Movie-Making

by Michael Blanding

Hollywood insiders have created "The Black List," which helps surface good but often overlooked scripts. Does the wisdom of the crowd work at the box office? Research by Hong Luo. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Incubators Take Notice: Your Entrepreneurs Are Networking with the Wrong People

by Danielle Kost

Startup incubators used by cities and companies to jump-start innovation have a problem to overcome. Attendees tend to network with people they already know, says research by Rembrand M. Koning. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

How Managers Stifle Creativity

by Danielle Kost

3QUESTIONS: Teresa Amabile discusses the roots of creativity, how to achieve more of it, and combining it with artificial intelligence. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Judgment Aggregation in Creative Production: Evidence from the Movie Industry

by Hong Luo, Jeffrey T. Macher, and Michael Wahlen

Selecting early-stage ideas in creative industries is challenging because consumer taste is hard to predict and the quantity to sift through is large. Using The Black List that ranks scripts annually based on nominations from film executives, this study shows that aggregating expert opinions helps reduce quality uncertainty and can influence high-budget production.

The Delicious History of Hershey's Chocolate

Re: Nancy F. Koehn

Milton Hershey, the candy king, pioneered chocolate treats for the masses. But he also built a controversial company town and what today is one of the richest schools in America. Nancy Koehn discusses Hershey's innovative life and vision. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Say Again? Uncommon Advice for Common Business Problems

by Sean Silverthorne

Sometimes the right answer is far from obvious. Learn why an introvert may be the best choice to lead your team, taking a pay cut might make you a better manager, and why you should not trust your gut when the pressure is on. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

How to Be a Rebel Leader

by Carmen Nobel

In the book Rebel Talent, Francesca Gino argues companies should encourage rebellion in their workplaces. Quiz: Discover what type of rebel you really are. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Does Time Pressure Help or Hinder Creativity at Work?

Re: Teresa M. Amabile

Professor Teresa Amabile discusses how managers can create the ideal conditions for employee creativity and success based on her research in three industries, seven companies, and 26 creative project teams. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

What Happens When Ordinary People Get Creative?

by Carmen Nobel

Move over, creative geniuses. Teresa Amabile says the world needs to pay more attention to the creative processes of everyday people, especially in an age when big ideas often come from the crowdsourced masses. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

In Pursuit of Everyday Creativity

by Teresa M. Amabile

This paper describes the most compelling research trends around creativity and innovation. It suggests that 1) creative behavior of ordinary individuals is likely to become more important to the development of products and services, and 2) future studies should focus on such creative behavior—and related psychological states and environmental contexts—as it happens.

Conversational Peers and Idea Generation: Evidence from a Field Experiment

by Sharique Hasan and Rembrand Koning

To develop a theory of innovator capability, this study extends existing research linking personality and creativity to take into account the social nature of idea generation. Using data from an experiment embedded in a bootcamp for aspiring entrepreneurs, results show that better ideas are generated by “open” innovators exposed to extroverted peers. Extroverts provide more raw information that innovators high in openness are best able to recombine into novel ideas.

When Your Classmate is an NBA Superstar (or Fashion Model, or Movie Actress)

by Dina Gerdeman

Industry superstars bring unique perspectives to the Business of Media, Entertainment, and Sports Executive Education program taught by Anita Elberse. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Does Competition Make Us More Creative?

by Michael Blanding

Competition can bring out the best in many people in many jobs, but can it make employees more creative? The answer lies in the Goldilocks Zone. Research by Daniel P. Gross. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

A Dedication to Creation: India's Ad Man Ranjan Kapur

by Sean Silverthorne

How do you build a brand amid the uncertainties and opportunities of a developing market? Harvard Business School Professor Sunil Gupta shares lessons learned from Ranjan Kapur, an iconic figure in the Indian advertising industry. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Corporate Field Researchers Share Tricks of the Trade

by Carmen Nobel

In a panel discussion, several professors shared practical findings and tricks-of-the-trade from recent field research. Among the discoveries: how to prompt employees to get a flu shot. Closed for comment; 1 Comment(s) posted.

Digital Initiative Summit: Who Has the Power in the Music Industry?

Re: Felix Oberholzer-Gee

With inexpensive recording technology and distribution, today's musicians can push their work in front of many new audiences. But to make money, they must learn the instruments of business. Open for comment; 0 Comment(s) posted.

Innovation Is Magic. Really

by Dina Gerdeman

When Stefan Thomke teaches students how to manage innovation and creativity, he turns to an unexpected source: Magician Jason Randal. Open for comment; 12 Comment(s) posted.