A mini report on corporate creativity. Can creativity be taught? What about the ROI on creativity training? Where to start the initiative in an organisation?

1. The Future Is a Butterfly!
A Mini Report On Corporate Creativity!
www.creacos.com 91- 9820003092

2. Corporate Creativity?
Why do we need creativity and innovation more than ever?
Let's go back in time: About 15 years.
Imagine a conference room in a premium Mumbai hotel.
Nokia was our client and they hosted a seminar...the branding experts
spoke about Nokia's 'human technology' positioning.
"Human technology! It's not just about technology, it's about the
customer. It's future proofing the brand. So that the brand remains
relevant in spite of the changes in the market place!"
The argument was convincing.The applause was loud and clear.
Now let's fast forward to...today!
Nothing future proof today.Nokia is struggling to keep it's place
intact in a market which is being directed by computer companies.
The only way to future proof a business today is to innovate
continuously.
To create the future before others invent a different version of it!
You think telecommunications is a silicon valley game?
Let's get closer to home...

3. There is No Competition!
We know everyone out there!
A small hall in a developing indian city.
We were talking to a group of newspaper guys.
( I am holding the name for reasons of confidentiality)
The whole team was there...Editors, Feature writers, circulation guys,
space selling executives.
Their newspaper is one of the leading daily in the region.
The distribution guy told the group, there is no need to worry.
No threat to the future of business.
He informed us..
'Every vendor knows me by name.
We are a family. I attend the marriges in their homes.
It's just difficult for any other group to shake us here!"
I heard the same applause once again.
The mention of internet didn't make any difference.
They were all unanimous in the conclusion:
People want to hold the newspaper in the hand.
They want to carry it in their bags.
Now, we told them about the 'Electronic paper'.
A thin paper like an electronic sheet which can be used to receive
the news any time of the day!
It will be like an electronic newspaper!

4. With such an invention you can get your own edition
whenever you want. And the reader can customize the
newspaper as per her choice.
There was a pin drop silence!
The current newspaper vendors won't make a difference in
such a scenario.
The game will change!
To give them credit, they agreed it's a possibility.
And they knew they have to be ready for such a future.
Today the competition is not just our own industry. It can
arise from unexpected corners. Even from garages where
future versions of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are planning their
next moves!
“The world is moving so fast! Even to stand in
your own place...You must...
RUN! run! RUN!”
:Captain Creaco

5. Innovation: The Core Value
The secret which is written on the wall!
Now let’s walk into an organization.
It can be almost any organization.
There is every probability that you will see
'Innovation' as one of the core values of the organization.
The corporate executives are much more aware of the need to
innovate. They know the pulse of the times.
But yet...
If we make an honest effort to discover the innovation efforts there, we
will only find some Idea boxes in various corners of the organization.
These boxes might be empty. Or full of complaints!
Everyone knows the truth:
Competition is tough
The targets are high
people are stressed.
Where is the time to think Ideas?

6. More Questions!
Can creativity be taught?
Is it possible to un-condition people's thinking?
Will creativity and innovation training be useful for
our own organization?
And where is the ecosystem to make such powerful
impact?

7. Can Creativity Be taught?
How to teach a butterfly to fly straight!
I am a creativity trainer. And invested bigger part of my life
in creative endeavors. So my response to this question will be
a biased one.
Various rigorous researches on innovation efforts will give
you an objective picture.
1:
In a Torrence research, it was found:
Age Creativity Score
3-5 98 % Scored genius
8 -10 32 % Scored genius
Adults (25 +) 2 % Scored genius
In other words, creativity scores declined as people grow older.
So, the real challenge in creativity training is to give people in our
organizations, a chance to rediscover that creative streak.
The good news is: It’s possible. Various calculations done on
Creativity training and it’s ROI suggests that creativity training
works!
And works remarkably well!

8. 2:
Organizations, such as 3M, Frito-Lay, and Texas Instruments, have
introduced systematic creativity activities into their training and
production processes with outstanding results.
Frito-Lay, for instance, reports documented cost savings over a four-
year period of almost $600 million due to their creativity training
programs.
4:
The Wall Street Journal reported that a two year in-house creativity
course at General Electric resulted in a
60% increase in patentable concepts.
5:
Participants in Pittsburgh Plate Glass creativity training showed a
300% increase in viable ideas compared with those who elected not to
take the course.
6:
At Sylvania, several thousand employees took a 40 hour course in
creative problem solving.
ROI: $20 for every $1 spent.
7:
Hewlett-Packard invested over $2 billion in R&D in 1999, and
generated more than 1,300 patent applications.
Net revenue: $42.37 billion.
I must add, all these were well planned, consistent efforts.
Creating a culture of creativity needs commitment.

9. Will it be useful in our
organization?
The most important question!
We can choose any yardstick. Whether neuroscience research
or the various researches done in organizations, it’s proven
beyond doubt that committed innovation efforts are fruitful.
But yet, how to make sure it will work in our organization?
We can take a few tips from our farmer friends in this regard.
I learnt it while traveling across India to understand farmers
approach and habits in using pesticides.
They use tested and proven products on 95 % of their crop,
but a 5 % part of the field is reserved for experimenting
with new innovative products...
This serves 2 purposes:
They compare the crop and its quality obtained from new
products vis-a-vis the crop from old products.
If new product gives better result , they use it for the next crop
cycle. And reap the benefits.
If the new product doesn't work for them, it doesn't make a
difference to their overall results.

10. I propose the same method.
Even when we know innovation is the need of the hour, we don’t
know where to start? There is a voice in us that says, may be it
can’t be done in our place.
But let us look closely. Have an intention to make a change. and
we will discover there are many idea champions.
They are the ones who kickstart new initiatives.
Recognize them and enable them to amplify their innate qualities.
Let us give them tools and techniques to achieve better results.
Once the positive results are seen, it becomes much easier to
implement the initiatives in the larger system.
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There are 2 questions still remaining:
1: Is your organisation innovation ready?
May be it is.
If it is so, we will like to learn from your success. Please share
the success stories with us, so we can learn from them.
Creativity and innovation training is not in the forefront of
indian industries yet, so any positive news will be inspiring.
May be innovation drives are on your agenda but you need
help. In that case we can help you.

11. 2: Who are we?
We are:
Creacos: The Creative Commandoes
A creativity and innovation training company.
We can help you create the Indian case studies in
breakthrough thinking.
To know more about us please visit
www.creacos.com/training.html
You can also enroll your idea champions in our upcoming
open training programme:
Creative Power House
Mumbai: 20th Oct. 2012
This unique creativity thinking module will immensely help
your idea champions.
To know more please visit the link below;
Tell us more about Creative Power House
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There is an idea factory in all of us, what we
need is a punch card to get in!
Mail: punito@thecreativitymission.com
Or call:09820003092