The structuring of creative processes: implications for GSS research

A number of structuring mechanisms present in creativity techniques (used with or without the support of GSS) are identified and how they influence the nature of products generated by individuals with different cognitive styles are explored.

Abstract

Group support systems (GSS) have an important role to play in the creativity revolution occurring in organizations. Creativity has been studied in terms of: the characteristics of the creative individual; specific creativity processes used; the nature of the products of creative processes: and the attributes of environments that inhibit or are conducive to creativity. GSS research, however, has tended to focus on very limited aspects of creativity and there is a need to expand the scope of GSS research. In this paper, we identify a number of structuring mechanisms present in creativity techniques (used with or without the support of GSS) and explore how they influence the nature of products generated by individuals with different cognitive styles. Our analysis leads to a set of testable propositions.>