Rich closes a posting about innovation, social networks, and creativity with
the following paragraph:
>For me, there is a fascinating pattern that connects: Creativity as the
>fundamental life force, with social networks as the structural basis for
>creativity. I see both Creativity and social network formation, as
>fundamentally emergent, self organized processes. Theatrical Improvisation
>occurs as a socially constructed reality spontaneously self-organizes out
>of the void of the empty stage. Using their full array of mind/body/spirit
>resources, the players collaboratively bring forth a new or novel reality
>that is coherent and sustainable as a story = Creativity. The shape of the
>social network emerges and provides the container for Creativity. For me,
>developing a process that synergizes Creativity and social network
>formation is the real challenge. I wonder if others find these connections
>interesting? ........ another order of question is 'do you think it is
>worth trying to 'train' for Creativity?'
For many people, the word "process" refers to a prefigured, state-change
activity (i.e., the transformation of known inputs into predefined
outputs). This view invokes the classic systems input-process-output
paradigm.
But what if the term "process" also referred to "a network of recurring,
patterned conversations"? This view invokes notions of discussants,
agendas, venues, purposes and so on.
Might such a "network" be at least partly engineered? Might it also prove
infinitely more "creative" and produce far more "innovations" than when
such conversations are left completely to chance? Finally, might people
learn how to contribute in productive ways to these conversations?
Perhaps they could even be taught or trained how to do so.
Currently, along with a small group of other people, I am engaged in
redesigning the process by which the research agenda for a $400 million
company is established, funded, sourced, and carried out. That is
knowledge work, plain and simple. That kind of work is not a good fit
with the manufacturing or data processing notions of input transformation.
It is, however, a good fit with "networks of conversations," and so I am
very interested in the connections you mention.
Regards,
Fred Nickols
The Distance Consulting Company
nickols@worldnet.att.net
http://home.att.net/~nickols/distance.htm
--Fred Nickols <nickols@worldnet.att.net>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>