Improving the creativity of MBA students

Authors: Pinard, Mary C.; Allio, Robert J.

Source: Strategy and Leadership, Volume 33, Number 1, 2005 , pp. 49-51(3)

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $38.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Purpose - <IT>Describes how The F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College features creativity as one of the early and essential components of its innovative two-year MBA program.</IT> Design/methodology/approach - <IT>Article reports on the indicators that the program is a success.</IT> Findings - <IT>For corporations seeking creativity in new hires, MBA graduates who have completed the "Creativity stream" offer increased confidence in their ability to express themselves creatively; willingness to accept ambiguity and the uncertainty of process as part of discovery; openness to alternatives ways of seeing a problem, solution, or scenario; and renewed trust in themselves and their potential as creative thinkers.</IT> Research limitations/implications - <IT>Employer survey results suggest that there is a link between Babson MBAs' success at producing more and better creative solutions on the job and their exposure to creative process in the "Creativity stream".</IT> Practical implications - <IT>There is only limited evidence that arts experiences as part of corporate creativity training are noticeably beneficial, but Unilever's management contends that such training leads to changed perceptions and better decisions.</IT> Originality/value - <IT>Creativity training can help employees and their managers develop new approaches to resolving corporate challenges.</IT>

Keywords: Creative thinking; Master of business administration; Organizations; Training

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10878570510572653

Publication date: 2005-02-01

More about this publication?