Creativity and imagination are key catalysts to unlocking potential in the 21st century. While those in business and civil society are generally aware of the challenges of the modern age, few seem able to understand or apply the creativity necessary to meet them. Creativity Explained suggests that the most direct route to imaginative insight lies in understanding how genuinely creative people develop their big ideas. Focusing on the lives of contemporary writers, musicians and artists, David Priilaid examines the elements of the creative process to provide readers with a better appreciation of creativity in practice. 

Through exploring the creative lives of figures such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Bill Evans, Jackson Pollock, J.K. Rowling and the iconic Steve Jobs, Priilaid shows how artists are typically outsiders, marked variously by the extent of their suffering, resilience and love for the work they do. 

Creativity Explained offers an insightful overview of the imaginative mindset and disciplines crucial to the formulation of great ideas. 

Contents Page:

Preliminary Pages

Introduction

An Artistic Overview

• 1. The Artistic Sensibility

The Artistic Mindset

• 2. Artistic Grit

• 3. Passion

• 4. The Exiled Child

• 5. Depression, Madness & Addiction

The Artistic Disciplines

• 6. Proactivity

• 7. Practice

• 8. Perspective

• 9. Instinct, Intuition, the Unconscious & Still Water

Fate

• 10. Success = Talent + Luck

Conclusion: Whereto with Creativity?

Acknowledgements

Index of Names

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Innovation today considers the economic, environmental, and/or social sustainability of an innovative initiative from its inception or idea generation through to its commercialization or implementation. This concept applies to many types of innovation such as products, processes, services, technologies, and business models. Companies use innovation as a means to gain a competitive advantage and bring value to business stakeholders.  

This book introduces business innovation, from incremental innovation such as enhancing the performance of an existing product, service, or process, to radical or disruptive innovation such as one that has a significant impact on a market. The content examines how leaders foster a culture of innovation, how companies turn creativity into innovation, and how innovation transforms not only organizations but economies as well. 

Contents Page:

Introduction

• Ch. 1: Business Innovation Foundations

• Ch. 2: Thinking Creatively

• Ch. 3: Service Innovation

• Ch. 4: Process Innovation

• Ch. 5: Sustainable Innovation

• Ch. 6: Growth Strategy

• Ch. 7: Design Thinking

• Ch. 8: Product Innovation

• Ch. 9: Innovation Risks

• Ch. 10: Leading Innovation

Glossary of Terms

A word from the Author:

"I hope you find the content in this book interesting and the lessons helpful. You may find some tips for improving your personal creative thinking skills as well as learn some of the important concepts pertaining to business innovation. I will try my best to update the book content from time to time and check that videos or resources do not become obsolete or outdated." --Kerri Shields

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This timely book expertly examines ongoing pressing issues in the modern world namely, an unstable economic climate, political turmoil and the environmental crisis. It takes a unique look at how science, technology and innovation could contribute towards the creation of a smarter and more resilient society by allowing more inclusive approaches into how science is integrated.

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. It is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline thanks to generous funding support from The Swedish Governmental Agency For Innovation Systems, Vinnova.

With an insightful global interdisciplinary approach, Smart Policies for Societies in Transition combines in-depth theoretical analysis whilst also providing a reflective look at broadening the scope of science and innovation policy in order to understand the critical issues and challenges. Chapters illustrate historical practices and events, and discuss how the move to smart politics and the linking of boundaries from a social, ecological and global viewpoint leads to fewer but more creative policies.

With its retrospective and forward-thinking perspectives, this book will be an excellent resource for academics wanting to rethink their approach to science and innovation governance, whilst scholars will find the collaborative method for combining policy analysis with theory of policymaking and governance informative and illuminating.

Table of contents:

Front Matter

Copyright

Contents

Contributors

Acknowledgements

• Ch.1: Towards a smart society? Innovation policy and the challenges of social inclusion, environmental resilience and sustainable growth

• Ch.2: A smart green direction for innovation: the answer to unemployment and inequality?

• Ch.3: The importance of post-modern science policy

• Ch.4: What past changes in Swedish policy tell us about developing third-generation research and innovation governance

• Ch.5: Masculinity and nationhood: cultural roots for the head in the clouds and feet on the ground research in China

• Ch.6: Funding transformative research - rationale and impacts

• Ch.7: Towards transformative policy in Finland and Sweden: some viewpoints from practice

• Ch.8: The integrative humanities - and the third research policy regime

• Ch.9: Foundations and the new renewal of research

• Ch.10: Decision-making in a time of spin and unspoken values

Back Matter

Open access

Index

Reviews:

‘This is a fascinating book about innovation policy that goes beyond the narrow focus on economic growth or international competition. It offers fresh new insight and ideas about the transformative role that smart policies can play in addressing a broader set of social, economic, and ecological challenges we face. It is a must read for not only scholars but also policy practitioners who care about innovation and its broad impact on society.’ -- Xue Lan, Tsinghua University, China

 ‘This book explores key requirements for smart politics, focussing on the domain of innovation policy. The editors adopt a broadened understanding of innovation – beyond technological change or product innovation –, requiring integrated, transformative policy responses to pressing societal, environmental and economic problems. The book further suggests three elements of smart innovation policies: first, acknowledging the importance of inclusion and justice; second, accepting that global flows of knowledge and goods will remain crucial; and third, unleashing a creative, experimental reconstruction of public policies.’ -- Stefan Kuhlmann, University of Twente, the Netherlands

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