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How Benign Structures can Support and Retain Creative Performance in Teams
Author(s) -
Moger Susan,
Rickards Tudor
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
creativity and innovation management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.148
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1467-8691
pISSN - 0963-1690
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8691.00133
Subject(s) - interpretation (philosophy) , knowledge management , psychology , creative problem solving , computer science , business , creativity , social psychology , programming language
We suggest that the concept of benign structure is important in understanding how creative leadership can intervene to support and sustain creative performance. We describe this insight with reference to the leadership observed in project teams of various kinds. Our interpretation of the evidence is that creative leadership produces benign structures which help teams pass through two structural barriers (‘press’) that bear on team performance. The weaker barrier requires help on inter‐personal relationships. The stronger barrier requires help so that performance levels go beyond established and accepted norms. The benign become most obvious in the application of creative problem solving techniques.