Geoff Trickey, Dr. Simon Toms and Professor Carolyn Mair
The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness – Oxford English Dictionary
In the most popular Ted talk of all time, Sir Ken Robinson (2006) mounts a passionate criticism of the education system. He summarises his position as follows:
“Being wrong is not the same as being creative, but if you’re not prepared
to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.”
Robinson’s argument is that a creative endeavour will often involve some form of risk. Mistakes and errors are part of a creative process. But the development of creative behaviours is hampered by education’s tendency to stigmatise. Robinson concludes by calling for a system that seeks to encourage creativity.
This argument is not unique to the education system. Predicting the future is notoriously difficult, yet the rewards are great.
It’s thus unsurprising that employers seek creative people who can adapt to this uncertainty. This becomes clear when reading any list of desirable professional competencies. Be it ‘innovative’, ‘imaginative’ or ‘inventive’, the justification is clear. The ability to adapt and create is essential.
Yet as Sir Ken Robinson suggests, creativity involves an element of risk. Pursuing an original course of action can mean courting uncertainty and inviting failure. Be it crafting artwork to starting a new entrepreneurial venture. Engaging in creative endeavours opens the creator up to potential risk and reward.
We acknowledge the breadth and complexity of creativity yet predict risk to be an important component. Investigating the interaction between the two concepts will be the study’s primary focus.