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Stimulating Ideas Through Creative Software

Author

Listed:
  • Kenneth R. MacCrimmon

    (Faculty of Commerce, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, V6T 1Z2)

  • Christian Wagner

    (School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089)

Abstract

A central task of management is decision making and a crucial aspect of decision making is having good alternatives from which to choose. This paper investigates whether computer-based procedures for idea generation can help individuals to develop solution alternatives more creatively. Our conceptual framework considers creative processes, environments, outputs, and individuals. In particular, generating alternatives is viewed as a process of "making connections" ---internal connections among problem elements and external connections between a problem and its environment. We have developed a computer program (GENI) which incorporates a variety of techniques to assist in making these different types of connections. The program is described and an experimental test with several managerial problems is presented. The results show that use of the program leads to the development of significantly more creative alternatives than does a control treatment. There is an amplification effect in that the performance of the more creative individuals is improved the most. Thus the findings suggest that computerized idea generation leads to more creative alternatives resulting in potentially better managerial decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenneth R. MacCrimmon & Christian Wagner, 1994. "Stimulating Ideas Through Creative Software," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 40(11), pages 1514-1532, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:40:y:1994:i:11:p:1514-1532
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.40.11.1514
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Meinel, Martin & Eismann, Tobias T. & Baccarella, Christian V. & Fixson, Sebastian K. & Voigt, Kai-Ingo, 2020. "Does applying design thinking result in better new product concepts than a traditional innovation approach? An experimental comparison study," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 661-671.
    2. Wang Kai, 2019. "Towards a Taxonomy of Idea Generation Techniques," Foundations of Management, Sciendo, vol. 11(1), pages 65-80, January.
    3. Shinhye Kim & Melanie Bowen & Xiaohan (Hannah) Wen, 2019. "The ultimate co-creation: leveraging customer input in business model innovation," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 9(3), pages 339-356, December.
    4. Deepa K. Ray & Nicholas C. Romano, 2013. "Creative Problem Solving in GSS Groups: Do Creative Styles Matter?," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 1129-1157, November.
    5. de Mast, Jeroen, 2011. "The tactical use of constraints and structure in diagnostic problem solving," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 702-709, December.
    6. Beck, Susanne & Brasseur, Tiare-Maria & Poetz, Marion & Sauermann, Henry, 2022. "Crowdsourcing research questions in science," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(4).
    7. Monica J. Garfield & Nolan J. Taylor & Alan R. Dennis & John W. Satzinger, 2001. "Research Report: Modifying Paradigms—Individual Differences, Creativity Techniques, and Exposure to Ideas in Group Idea Generation," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 12(3), pages 322-333, September.
    8. Tan, Kim Hua & Platts, Ken, 2009. "Linking operations objectives to actions: A plug and play approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(2), pages 610-619, October.
    9. Tatiana Gavrilova & Artem Alsufyev & Anna-sophia Yanson, 2014. "Modern Notation of business models: а visual Trend," Foresight-Russia Форсайт, CyberLeninka;Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Национальный исследовательский университет «Высшая школа экономики», vol. 8(2 (eng)), pages 56-70.
    10. M. Ann McFadyen & Matthew Semadeni & Albert A. Cannella, 2009. "Value of Strong Ties to Disconnected Others: Examining Knowledge Creation in Biomedicine," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 552-564, June.
    11. Wei Zhang & Qingpu Zhang, 2014. "Multi-stage evaluation and selection in the formation process of complex creative solution," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 2375-2404, September.
    12. Sophie Hooge & Milena Klasing Chen & Dominique Laousse, 2019. "Managing the emergence of concepts in fuzzy front end: a framework of strategic performance and emerging process of innovation briefs," Post-Print hal-02167857, HAL.
    13. Benedikt Simmert & Philipp Alexander Ebel & Christoph Peters & Eva Alice Christiane Bittner & Jan Marco Leimeister, 2019. "Conquering the Challenge of Continuous Business Model Improvement," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 61(4), pages 451-468, August.
    14. Wei Zhang & Qingpu Zhang & Bo Yu & Limei Zhao, 2015. "Knowledge map of creativity research based on keywords network and co-word analysis, 1992–2011," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 49(3), pages 1023-1038, May.
    15. Ilona Kuzmickaja & Xiaofeng Wang & Daniel Graziotin & Gabriella Dodero & Pekka Abrahamsson, 2015. "In Need of Creative Mobile Service Ideas? Forget Adults and Ask Young Children," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(3), pages 21582440156, August.
    16. Elina Mikelsone & Aivars Spilbergs & Jean-Pierre Segers & Tatjana Volkova & Elita Liela, 2022. "Better Ideation Task Results in Web-Based Idea Management Systems," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 2(2), pages 1-12, March.
    17. Philipp Alexander Ebel & Ulrich Bretschneider & Jan Marco Leimeister, 2016. "Can The Crowd Do The Job? Exploring The Effects Of Integrating Customers Into A Company’S Business Model Innovation," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(07), pages 1-24, October.
    18. Wei Zhang & Yongli Li & Wenyao Zhang & Shengli Dai, 2019. "Social network evolution in creative process of CNPD teams: a case study of Chinese companies," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 143-181, January.

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