SMU Classification: Restricted

The Lee Kong Chian School of Business

Academic Year 2022/23
Term 2

MGMT227 MANAGING CREATIVITY IN ORGANIZATIONS

Instructor Name: Dr Gilbert Tan
Title: Adjunct Faculty of Strategy & Organisation
Email: gilberttan@smu.edu.sg
Office: LKCSB Level 5 Adjunct Suite

COURSE DESCRIPTION
While business leaders agree that creativity and innovation is key to corporate and entrepreneurial successes,
there is little consensus on how to foster, sustain, and harness individual and team creativity in corporations. This
course provides a survey of theories, research and practitioner insights into this issue of fostering and harnessing
corporate creativity. Topics include: approaches to creativity, the creative individual, creative thinking processes,
creativity techniques and programs, total systems approach, and case studies of creative organizations.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Discuss the different approaches and definitions of creativity.
• Apply creativity techniques to generate innovative solutions to organizational problems.
• Explain the differences among individual, team, and organizational creativity.
• Diagnose obstacles to individual, team and organizational creativity.
• Formulate appropriate interventions to foster, sustain and manage creativity in organizations.

PRE-REQUISITE/ CO-REQUISITE/ MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE COURSE(S)

Please refer to the Course Catalogue on OASIS for the most updated list of pre-requisites / co-requisites for this
particular course. Do note that if this course has a co-requisite, it means that the course has to be taken together
with another course. Dropping one course during BOSS bidding would result in both courses being dropped at the
same time.

There is no pre-requisite for this course. Please refer to the Course Catalogue on OASIS for the most updated
information.

ASSESSMENT METHODS
Class Participation: 10 % (Throughout the term)
Test 30 % (Weeks 10)
Individual Assignments 30 % (Week 7, 13)
Group Project Presentation and Report: 30 % (Weeks 11-13)
Total 100%

Note: You will be graded according to the curve after aggregating all the components. Hence, it is possible
that your component grades may differ from your final grade after moderation.

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INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND EXPECTATIONS

The course is designed to be informational, hands-on and reflective. To achieve the objectives of the course, a
variety of instructional methods will be used. These include lectures, small group discussions, experiential
exercises, class presentations and self-learning.

Students are expected to attend all class sessions, complete the reading assignments, and be prepared to lead case
studies, class discussions, etc. The instructor may ask different students to lead in discussion and other learning
activities each week.

Evaluation methods include class participation and individual assignments. In addition, there will be a major project
which requires a group presentation. One of the objectives of the major project is to facilitate peer learning on
topics that are of interests to the students but not covered in-depth by the instructor. You will be given a list of
suggested topics on the first day of class. Students are expected to work in small groups of 4 to 5 for the major
project. There will be no final examination for this course. However, there will be a test on week #10.

Class Participation
Participation is a central part of the learning process for you and your classmates. When you contribute, you help
others learn. Your participation mark reflects your contribution to your classmates learning. This includes
attendance, full preparation prior to class including reading assigned materials and completion of mini assignments,
and active participation in class discussions and group activities.

Groupings and group size

You will be assigned to groups of between four and seven. You may get one “buddy” to be in the same group. Please
let my TA know early if you want to have a “buddy” in your group. Otherwise, he will just assign you to any groups.

Group Project and Presentation

The objective of the project is to allow you to conduct research into a particular area which is relevant to corporate
creativity. The group project is your last opportunity to demonstrate your in-depth understanding of the various
theories and frameworks taught in class. Please provide me with a hard copy of the powerpoint slides during class
for my reference. There will be peer evaluation and your final score will this project will be adjusted according to
the score you get from the peer evaluation.

Test
There will be a mid-term test on Week 10. It is an open-book test. You are allowed to bring in all your notes, articles
and books, etc. No make-up tests will be allowed without prior permission.
I expect all of you to comply the school’s examination policy.

CONSULTATIONS
You can email me for appointment and consultation.

RECOMMENDED TEXTS
• Khandawalla, P. (2003) Corporate Creativity: The Winning Edge. Tata McGraw-Hill Title. (0-07-049949-7)

REFERENCE TEXTS
We will refer to the following texts:
• DeGraff, J & Lawrence, K.A., (2002). Creativity at Work. Jossey-Bass.

• Kelley, T. (2001). The Art of Innovation. Profile Books.

• Rowe, A.J. (2004). Creative Intelligence: Discovering the Innovative Potential in ourselves and others.
Pearson, Prentice-Hall.

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OTHER REFERENCES
Additional readings (e.g., selected articles from scholarly journals, magazines and newspapers) will be assigned by
the instructor from time to time.

Students are also encouraged to develop library and internet research skills in searching for relevant articles
related to the various topics.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Academic Integrity
All acts of academic dishonesty (including, but not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, facilitation of acts of
academic dishonesty by others, unauthorized possession of exam questions, or tampering with the academic work
of other students) are serious offences.

All work (whether oral or written) submitted for purposes of assessment must be the student’s own work.
Penalties for violation of the policy range from zero marks for the component assessment to expulsion, depending
on the nature of the offense.

When in doubt, students should consult the instructors of the course. Details on the SMU Code of Academic
Integrity may be accessed at https://oasis.smu.edu.sg/Pages/DOS-WKLSWC/UCSC.aspx.

Copyright Notice
Please note that all course materials are meant for personal use only, namely, for the purposes of teaching,
studying and research. You are strictly not permitted to make copies of or print additional copies or distribute
such copies of the course materials or any parts thereof, for commercial gain or exchange.

For the full copyright notice, please visit: https://smu.sg/Copyright-notice or OASIS -> CAMPUS LIFE & EXCHANGE -
> CONDUCT & DISCIPLINE -> UNIVERSITY COUNCIL OF STUDENT DISCIPLINE

Accessibility
SMU strives to make learning experiences accessible for all. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic
barriers due to disability, please let me know immediately. You are also welcome to contact the university's
disability services team if you have questions or concerns about academic provisions: included@smu.edu.sg. Please
be aware that the accessible tables in our seminar room should remain available for students who require them.

Digital Readiness for Teaching and Learning (DRTL)

As part of emergency preparedness, instructors may conduct lessons online via the Zoom platform during the
term, to prepare students for online learning. During an actual emergency, students will be notified to access the
Zoom platform for their online lessons. The class schedule will mirror the current face-to-face class timetable
unless otherwise stated.

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COURSE SCHEDULEi
Week Topics Reading Assign
1 Introduction Chap 1 & 2
• Individual versus Corporate Creativity
• Approaches to Creativity
• Creativity exercises

2 Harnessing Creativity for Business Advantage I Chap 4 & 6

• Creativity Frameworks I
• Problem definition techniques
• Corporate applications

3 Harnessing Creativity for Business Advantage II Chap 4 & 6

• Creativity Frameworks II
• Idea Generation Techniques
• Corporate applications

4 Leadership Roles in the Innovation Processes Chap 3

• Pro-creativity Leadership
• Managerial Barriers to Creativity

5 Managing Innovative Teams Chap 5

• Managing creative performance in teams
• Thinking tools for team creativity

6 Managing Creativity in Corporations I Chap 7 & 8

• Models of Organizational Creativity
• Management of organizational processes for innovation
• Case study

7. Managing Creativity in Corporation II Chap 9 & 10

• Total Systems Approach
• Designing diagnostic tools

8. RECESS

9 Unleashing Corporate Creativity Chap 11

• The six elements of corporate creativity
• Mapping out action plans to enhance corporate creativity
• Project Consultation

10 Corporate Creativity Programs

• Designing Creativity Training Programs
• Test

11-12 Corporate Creativity in Actions

• Group Project Presentation

13 Course Review & Submission of Reports

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Instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus as needed.