Creativity and innovation are integral to an organization’s ability to survive and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.
This course provides students with an understanding of how creativity and innovation can be facilitated and managed in a work setting.
Students will learn about theoretical conceptualizations of creativity and innovation as well as practical applications involved in fostering creativity and innovation in the workplace.
Students will be expected to play an active role in learning through class exercises, class discussions, and dialogue with guest speakers, and presentations about real (or planned) innovations in organizations.
Tell a story, one word at a time from every person in the class.
Think about how many people are in the class, and how many words you will have available – everyone must add a word.
Choose your words wisely – your word sets up the next person, and the next after that.
Read the story, word by word at the end, to hear how it sounds, and if it really tells a story.
Lesson: Many times you will have a limited amount of time or space to communicate what you need to communicate. If your audience does not get the message you have not communicated.
Creativity / Innovation Application Presentation, Memo: For this project, students will apply what they have learned during the semester.
First, you need to include a creative component to the project. You could develop a product or service, or you can propose another creative idea to me in advance. Your idea should not be dangerous or offensive, and should not involve cheating or fraud. Your creative component should be novel (new in some way) and useful. It should be clear that there potential for a market or audience for your idea.
Second, you need to write a one-page memo in which you outline how concepts and suggestions that you have learned in this class apply to your creative idea. Concepts and suggestions that will help to ensure the effectiveness of your idea, or that will minimize the possibility of challenges which could arise, should be outlined. Bullet point form is recommended to remain organized and succinct.
Third, select one of the creativity exercises / techniques used in class this semester and apply the technique to your project idea. Include evidence that you have used a technique as an appendix for this assignment.
Lastly, you will be expected to give a 1-minute presentation in which you introduce your concept, explain your thinking and sell your idea to the class. This will help improve your idea and presentation skills.
Presentation Requirements (50 points)
1:00 Presentation (:50 – 1:00) (10)
Presentation timed by instructor
Loss of points per second under or over parameters (i.e., :45 presentation minus 5 points of possible 10)
Product, service or idea must demonstrate creativity and innovation
The ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns and relationships.
Is this product, service or idea creative? (10)
Is this product, service or idea innovative? (10)
Does the product, service or idea have market potential? (10)
Presentation must be creative and innovative (10)
Video, audio or other media used for your presentation must be managed by the student during the presentation. You may bring a thumb drive to easily reference your required files, or use the computer at the podium to access your files as needed. The instructor is not responsible for any technical support of your presentation. Failure to be prepared for your presentation due to technical difficulties will impact the points for your presentation.
Memo Requirements (50 points)
The memo should address the following:
Explain the influence of problem solving techniques, processes, and /or environmental conditions on the creativity for this product, service or idea. (10)
Describe your innovation process (the innovation value chain, the role of champions, and / or the commercializing an innovation) for your product, service or idea. (10)
Explain the process involved in applying creativity effectively to your creative idea or innovation. (10)
Analyze what you have learned from the practices you applied to facilitate your own creativity and innovation. (10)
Relate a critical issue from a case study in class (Shanghai Tang, Coolburst, etc) to your product, service or idea. (10)
The memo must be at least one page (Arial, 11pt, single-spaced, Word doc), and no longer than two pages to communicate what you believe is important to share about your concept.
The memo will now be required to be submitted via Blackboard using Turnitin no later than 1 hour after the beginning of class – no exceptions.
Design Thinking Group Project:
Groups of (approximately) 5 students will work together on a project in which they will apply a design thinking approach to develop a new product or service for a company of their choice. Groups must confirm with the availability of their company choice
with the Instructor at least two (2) weeks before your presentation (first come, first choice).
The group presentation should last at least 10-minutes, no longer than 15-minutes. You are
strongly encouraged to be creative with your presentation.
The project overview must be turned in at the conclusion of your presentation.
This Microsoft Word document must at least 3-pages, no be longer than 5-pages, double-spaced, 12-point
Arial font with 1” margins. Pictures or tables do not count towards the page total. Your project
overview will include references cited and does not count towards the minimum requirements.
Grades will be based on the quality of your group presentation and the quality of your group
project overview. More details will be provided in advance of the assignment.
Team member evaluations will be conducted for the group project and used to adjust grades for
those demonstrate exemplary or unsatisfactory contributions to the team. Peer evaluations will
comprise 20% of each student’s grade for this assignment.
Groups have the option to vote for a dismissal of a group member. If 75% of your group votes to
remove you from the group you will be given an alternative individual assignment.
Group Project Requirements (100 points)
Submission of concept (2) weeks in advance for review and approval (25)
Include names of group members
Present concept clearly
Confirm there are no competing concepts
Product, service or idea must demonstrate creativity and innovation (25)
Is this product, service or idea creative? (10)
Is this product, service or idea innovative? (10)
Does the product, service or idea demonstrate design thinking? (5)
5:00 Group Presentation (4:30 – 5:30) (50)
Presentation timed by instructor
Loss of points per second under or over parameters (i.e., 5:45 presentation minus 30 points of possible 50)
Presentation must be creative and innovative (40)
Every group member must contribute to presentation (10)
Video, audio or other media used for your presentation must be managed by the group during the presentation. Teams may bring a thumb drive to easily reference your required files, or use the computer at the podium to access your files as needed. The instructor is not responsible for any technical support of your presentation. Failure to be prepared for your presentation due to technical difficulties will impact the points for your presentation.
Project Overview Requirements (100 points)
The project overview should address the following:
Describe your team’s innovation process (the innovation value chain, the role of champions, and / or the commercializing an innovation) for the development if your product, service or idea. Where did this idea come from, how did it evolve? (20)
Explain the influence of problem solving techniques, processes, and /or environmental conditions on the creativity for this product, service or idea. What did you learn in class that you applied to this concept? (20)
Analyze what you have learned in class from design thinking practices that you applied to facilitate your group creativity and innovation. Show drawings and evolutions of drawings that demonstrate your process. (20)
Relate a critical issue from a case study in class (Shanghai Tang, Coolburst, etc) to your product, service or idea. Share what you learned from the readings that impacted your decision making and project management. (20)
Evaluation of your team member’s performance through your project development process with an explanation of how each contributed towards your projects success. (20)
The project overview must be at least 3-pages (Arial, 11pt, single-spaced, Word doc), and no longer than five pages to communicate what you believe is important to share about your project.
The project overview is required to be submitted via email to the Instructor via email before class – no exceptions. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your paper – technical issues happen. If you do not meet this deadline your group paper will not be accepted.
Project Overview Requirements (100 points)
The project overview should address the following:
Describe your team’s innovation process (the innovation value chain, the role of champions, and / or the commercializing an innovation) for the development if your product, service or idea. Where did this idea come from, how did it evolve? (20)
Explain the influence of problem solving techniques, processes, and /or environmental conditions on the creativity for this product, service or idea. What did you learn in class that you applied to this concept? (20)
Analyze what you have learned in class from design thinking practices that you applied to facilitate your group creativity and innovation. Show drawings and evolutions of drawings that demonstrate your process. (20)
Relate a critical issue from a case study in class (Shanghai Tang, Coolburst, etc) to your product, service or idea. Share what you learned from the readings that impacted your decision making and project management. (20)
Evaluation of your team member’s performance through your project development process with an explanation of how each contributed towards your projects success. (20)
The project overview must be at least 3-pages (Arial, 11pt, single-spaced, Word doc), and no longer than five pages to communicate what you believe is important to share about your project.
The project overview is required to be submitted via email to the Instructor via email before class – no exceptions. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your paper – technical issues happen. If you do not meet this deadline your group paper will not be accepted.
Project Overview Requirements (100 points)
The project overview should address the following:
Describe your team’s innovation process (the innovation value chain, the role of champions, and / or the commercializing an innovation) for the development if your product, service or idea. Where did this idea come from, how did it evolve? (20)
Explain the influence of problem solving techniques, processes, and /or environmental conditions on the creativity for this product, service or idea. What did you learn in class that you applied to this concept? (20)
Analyze what you have learned in class from design thinking practices that you applied to facilitate your group creativity and innovation. Show drawings and evolutions of drawings that demonstrate your process. (20)
Relate a critical issue from a case study in class (Shanghai Tang, Coolburst, etc) to your product, service or idea. Share what you learned from the readings that impacted your decision making and project management. (20)
Evaluation of your team member’s performance through your project development process with an explanation of how each contributed towards your projects success. (20)
The project overview must be at least 3-pages (Arial, 11pt, single-spaced, Word doc), and no longer than five pages to communicate what you believe is important to share about your project.
The project overview is required to be submitted via email to the Instructor via email before class – no exceptions. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your paper – technical issues happen. If you do not meet this deadline your group paper will not be accepted.