Human resources, creativity, and innovation: The conflict between homo faber and homo ludens

Abstract

This paper deals with the socioeconomic dimension of creativity in technology organization and economy. Creativity is decisive for the development of social systems, but one finds evidence that creativity is a wasted resource. Obstacles to creativity have been identified over the following stages: formation of creative personalities, creation period, and realization period; and on four levels: growth of productive forces, economic relations and interests, institutions, and mental or ideological factors. World, society, organizations, groups, and individuals and their interaction are the objects of social creativity research. Measurement of creativity in the stages research, development, and introduction and improvement uses four dimensions: results, process, personal characteristics, and level of participation. Creativity is closely connected with its counterpart: routine experience. In an organization the innovation potential plays an important role, together with such determinants as strategic orientation, capacity for current production operations, and level of cooperation and coordination.