Human Resources and Creativity
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Based on the readings and our work this quarter, it is apparent that it is possible for creativity and innovation to exist in established organizations and that these qualities can be encouraged by leaders and managers. It is difficult to maintain creativity as an ongoing aspect of the organization, but certain management attitudes and practices can contribute to this end. In this paper, the focus is on exploring ways in which the human resources function within the organization can support creativity and innovation. There are a number of elements comprising the traditional human resources function, including recruitment, selection, orientation, training, career development, performance evaluation, and reward systems. In more recent decades, human resources has fulfilled the important functions of ensuring equal opportunity and supporting diversity. There are a number of alternative pathways that can be followed for each one of these elements. For example, recruitment can be quite narrow. It can focus on looking at a narrow population base for new hires. On the other hand, recruitment can have an outreach element built into it, even an affirmative action aspect. This kind of recruitment intentionally expands the population from which new employees are drawn. It tends to increase diversity within the company. Although diversity can create stresses and tensions within the organization,
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rganization.
On the other hand, selecting for creativity itself may be possible more objectively through the use of tests designed for that purpose. There are instruments which measure problemsolving or creative thinking ability. These could be part of the selection process in an organization that wanted to support creativity and innovation, while also ensuring fair hiring practices.
Orientation
Again, the clearest illustration of how the orientation function can support creativity is in the reading about the Lotus Development Corporation. Lotus provides new employees with an orientation session, and an orientation tour, that is designed to help them feel connected to other employees and part of the organization.
Lotus has a clear statement of corporate values, which includes a strong emphasis on creativity, flexibility, and innovation. Two of the statements are specifically about this emphasis. One focuses on flexibility to respond to new situations and the other emphasizes the importance of creativity, innovation, and initiative. It also directly states that these characteristics will be valued and fostered. In other words, new employees are told that the organization values those qualities and that they will
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Contribute Creativity, American Express, Jerry Welsh, Development Corporation, Resources Function, Corporation Lotus, Management Program, Finally Axelrod, Tom Chappell, Performance Evaluation, human resources, creativity innovation, support creativity, affirmative action, human resources function, resources function, performance evaluation, support creativity innovation, corporate culture, career development, training career development, reward systems, training career, lotus development corporation, diversity affirmative action,
Approximate Word count = 1977
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)
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