Creativity in the Imagination Age: Theories, Practice and Application

ISBN-13: 9783030986469 / Angielski / Twarda / 2022 / 165 str.

S M A Moin

Spis treści

1. Introduction: The Magic and Mystery of the Imagination Age

We are living at the pinnacle of human civilisation. The power of imagination has empowered humankind to survive and thrive through different ages. The agricultural age belonged to farmers; the industrial age belonged to factory workers; the information age belonged to knowledge workers – but the imagination age is for creators, empathisers and meaning makers. The imagination age has its own magic and mystery where science meets art, design, and story – and meaning and ideas drive people to turn their dreams into reality: “...art invokes such deep emotions, hold so many secrets, and stories that are key to unlocking our thinking, so they are more related than you think.”¹

The limitations seem to be the limitations of our imagination and thinking. There was a time when the wondrous moon in the night sky sparked the imagination of humankind. Then humankind has landed on the surface of the moon. Now they are questing to live on Mars and exploring many more options in the space. The imagination age is extending the horizon of our dreams. There was no better time in the history of humankind when creativity was more important than now. This chapter will introduce the power of imagination age by highlighting its magic and mystery, explaining how creativity has become a prominent part of our personal and professional lives.

2. Connecting the Dots: The Inextricable Link between Imagination, Creativity and Innovation

There is an inextricable link between imagination, creativity and innovation. It is essential to understand and establish this link to unlock the magic and mystery of the imagination age. Grounded from the seminal academic and applied research and industry best practices, this chapter will introduce an integrative model of imagination, creativity and innovation, helping the readers to embark on a journey through the concepts and theories of imagination, creativity and innovation. This model will set a roadmap for the rest of the book, navigating the readers and managing their curiosity to explore each component. It will enable the readers to reflect on what differentiates the innovators from the non-innovators, and why some companies are more creative than others are.

Possible Subheadings:

  Why imagination, creativity and innovation matters

A multidisciplinary integrative model of imagination, creativity and innovation

The Antecedents and consequences of creativity

Unlocking the power of creativity

3.. Imagination: The Philosophy of Mind and The Art of Fantasy

Creativity and innovation start with imagination, the power and ability to think beyond reality. Einstein put it compellingly: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” Drawing on different philosophical, scientific, and academic traditions, this chapter will cover critical theories and concepts of imagination. This will engage the learners by allowing them to deconstruct the principal thoughts and definitions of imagination, which is at the heart of creativity and innovation. Case study and reflective questions will inspire critical and creative thinking, helping the learners comprehend the facets of imagination and why it matters in fostering creativity at the personal and organisational level.

Possible Subheadings:

·         Conceptualising imagination: A critical review of different concepts and philosophical thinking of imagination

·         The different approaches to imagination: conception, perception, and synthesis

·         Unlocking the power of mind: The practice and application of imagination

·         Imagination to ideation: A new model of thinking

·         Application of imagination: Futurology and trend analysis

4. . Creativity: The Secret Sauce of Inventors, Scientists and Artists

Creativity is in the DNA of humankind. However, there are arts and science of unleashing human creativity and developing a creative culture that propel thinking in the innovative organisations. This chapter will give a critical account of the evolving paradigms of creative thinking, drawing on different academic traditions, triggering the interest of the researchers and practitioners.

Possible Subheadings:

·         Philosophical approaches to creativity: A review of the psychological and historical creativity

·         Originality, value and intentionality: Towards a comprehensive and applied definition of creativity

·         The components of individual creativity

·         The characteristics of creative teams

·         The art of creative thinking: A new model to unlock personal creativity

·         The role of imagination and associative thinking in fostering creativity

A gift of God to humankind: Theological approaches to creativity 

5. Driving Innovation in the Imagination Age: Where Science Meets Art, Design and Story

In this hyper-competitive and rapidly changing imagination age, what keeps businesses and organisations in the game is their ability to think creatively and innovate to win the hearts and minds of the customers. According to Hal Gregersen, the Executive Director of the MIT Leadership Center and the author of several books, including The Innovator's DNA, “Innovation is the lifeblood of accomplishment in professional and personal endeavours.” This chapter will critically discuss the theories, models, and categories of innovation drawing on the seminal works, engaging the learners with the discussions and debates on the contemporary issues of innovation. The chapter will also unveil how great innovation takes place at the intersection of science, art and design, and how they are communicated through stories that encompass ethos, logos and pathos. The role of design thinking will also be addressed for it is not just a tool for competitive advantage but a defence against disruption and a means to stay in the game that innovators play in the imagination age.

Possible Subheading:

·         Conceptualising innovation and why it matters in the imagination age

·         A critical review of the approaches to the categorisation of innovation

·         Innovation strategy, design thinking and the art of invention

·         The dominant approaches to new product/service development

·         Leading innovation: Managing creative destruction through dual transformation

·         The various roles within a innovation team

·         Man vs. Machine: The role of human in the age of AI

6.Conclusion: Keys to the Kingdom

In the imagination age, ideas are keys to the kingdom. While ideas are free, many organisations fail because they fall short of ideas. Then, how can we find the keys to the kingdom? A culture that empowers people to challenge the status quo and encourages risk-taking fosters creativity and sparks innovation. This chapter will address the role of organisational culture in inspiring people to generate plenty of new ideas, which are the bedrocks of creative organisations. While changing the culture is hard, this chapter will discuss how small changes in habits can make a significant impact in shaping the culture of creativity and innovation within organisations; and how creative leaders inspire and mobilise people and resources in the imagination age.

Possible Subheadings:

·         Where ideas come from

·         The importance of organizational culture in fostering creativity and innovation

·         The various components of organizational culture

·         Process-driven vs. culture-driven organisations

·         How innovative habits shape culture of creativity

O autorze

S M A Moin is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Marketing at Queen Mary University of London, UK. He is an interdisciplinary researcher interested in storytelling, branding, trust, creativity, innovation and leadership. Before moving into academia, Moin worked in several industries, including military (Navy), media, publishing, and financial services. Before joining Queen Mary University

of London, he worked as the Associate Head of Research and Scholarship at Coventry University London.

Blurb

 “Bringing art and science together, as a creative method for innovation and application, has become an essential skill within an increasing number of sectors. This book explores the intersection between complimentary and clashing disciplines in a new and fresh way.” – Professor Jonathan A.J. Wilson, Professor of Brand Strategy & Culture, Regent's University London, UK

“A valuable guide for individuals and organisations highlighting how we can all free our minds up to think in new and exciting ways.” – Emeritus Professor Alan Wilson, Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde, UK

In the imagination age, organizations need to harness the power of creativity and innovation in order to survive and thrive. Grounded in academic and applied research, this book offers invaluable insights into these concepts from an interdisciplinary perspective. Through compelling narratives, the author critically discusses the theories and models that will empower the thinking of researchers, entrepreneurs and leaders. Revealing how the fourth industrial revolution can put our creative minds into play with enormous opportunities to solve problems and make meaning, the book invites us to debate how human and emerging technologies will write the next chapter of human history.  It covers philosophical approaches to creativity, the characteristics of creative teams, the components of individual creativity as well as the role of imagination and associative thinking in fostering creativity and innovation.

S M A Moin is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Marketing at Queen Mary University of London, UK. He is an interdisciplinary researcher interested in storytelling, branding, trust, creativity, innovation and leadership. Before moving into academia, Moin worked in several industries, including military (Navy), media, publishing, and financial services.  Before joining Queen Mary University of London, he worked as the Associate Head of Research and Scholarship at Coventry University London.