‭ P Jain School of Global Management‬

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‭EPSS 4: Innovation, Creativity and Agility‬

‭______________________________________________________‬

‭REFLECTIVE PORTFOLIO ON CREATIVITY,‬

‭INNOVATION, AND AGILITY‬
‭______________________________________________________‬

‭THAO CHU _ BS21DON022‬

 ‭I.‬ ‭Introduction‬

‭ his reflective portfolio explores my personal experiences with creativity, innovation, and‬
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‭agility. By examining real-world personal examples, I aim to gain a deeper understanding of‬
‭these crucial skills and how they contribute to my personal and professional development.‬

‭II.‬ ‭Creativity, Innovation, and Agility in real life‬

‭●‬ ‭Creativity‬

‭ reativity is the ability to generate new and original ideas or concepts. It's about using our‬
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‭imagination and thinking outside the box to come up with something fresh and valuable.‬
‭Whenever I think about creativity, I always think about my art products. It has always been a‬
‭passion for me to create something aesthetic from available normal materials, especially when it‬
‭comes to crafting personalized gifts for loved ones. For instance, I once hand-designed a‬
‭basketball-themed card using recycled cardboard for my boyfriend, incorporating his favorite‬
‭team colors and player quotes. However, a truly eye-opening experience came during a class‬
‭with Professor Shurmara Fernando. She presented us with simple materials – green squares,‬
‭white paper, and paperclips – and challenged us to invent something new. Initially, I fell back‬
‭into familiar territory, creating origami flowers. While I considered this creative, Professor‬
‭Fernando gently explained that true creativity is not creating something that has already been‬
‭other’s creative products; yet she still kept my works and helped me to turn them into something‬
‭creative: think beyond my initial meanings of this paper flower, connect with other classmates’‬
‭works and create a story about them. Another student's paper cannon also lacked this element.‬
‭Professor Fernando then guided us towards combining our creations and crafting a narrative‬
‭around them. Inspired by this lesson, I revisited the challenge and devised a green cone ice‬
‭cream using the provided materials. This experience not only solidified my understanding of‬
‭creativity as going beyond the familiar but also highlighted the importance of active learning and‬
‭instructors who can push students to think outside the box.‬

‭I was impressed by the lessons and took further research into how‬‭important is and why involves‬
‭creativity in our lives.‬

‭ or millennia, humans have valued creativity, but it wasn't until Charles Darwin's theory of‬
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‭natural selection that we truly grasped its fundamental role in survival. Darwin's work‬
‭highlighted that successful adaptation, a key element of evolution, relies heavily on the ability to‬
‭come up with new solutions and approaches. This insight emphasizes the critical nature of‬
‭creativity. It's not just about artistic expression; it's about problem-solving, innovation, and‬
‭finding unique ways to thrive in a changing environment. Throughout history, from developing‬
‭tools to navigating new landscapes, human creativity has been the driving force behind our‬
‭ability to adapt and survive. Even today, creativity fuels scientific breakthroughs, technological‬
‭advancements, and social progress. It allows us to solve complex problems, discover new‬
‭possibilities, and shape a better future.‬
‭ reativity is no longer relegated to the realm of artistic expression. The emergence of dedicated‬
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‭academic journals like "Creativity Research Journal" and "Psychology of Art, Creativity, and‬
‭Aesthetics" showcases its transformation into a distinct field of study. Furthermore, the growing‬
‭presence of "creativity" in media and popular press underscores a broader cultural understanding‬
‭of its importance. This surge in interest suggests that creativity is no longer a niche concept, but a‬
‭recognized force with significant impact across various aspects of life.‬

‭●‬ ‭Innovation:‬

‭ reativity and innovation are often confused, but while they're closely linked, they have distinct‬
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‭roles. Creativity sparks the generation of new and original ideas. Innovation takes those ideas a‬
‭step further, transforming them into something useful and impactful in the real world. Think of‬
‭creativity as the seed of an idea, and innovation as the process of nurturing that seed into a‬
‭flourishing plant.‬

J‭ ust like the spark of creativity that transforms a blank canvas into a masterpiece, innovation‬
‭takes new ideas and breathes life into them. Reflecting on my real life, it’s interesting that I am‬
‭also doing something innovative at the moment.‬

‭ ecognizing the challenge of maintaining proper gym posture, especially for beginners, I, along‬
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‭with a friend who shared my passion for fitness, decided to think up a platform to solve all‬
‭gym-lovers’ major problems. We envisioned a platform that utilizes posture recognition‬
‭algorithms learned from our data science course, potentially combining open-source code and‬
‭AI-generated elements like ChatGPT. This platform aimed to be a user-friendly system that‬
‭detects and corrects posture form during workouts. This experience not only highlights my‬
‭willingness to explore unconventional solutions but also demonstrates my innovative spirit,‬
‭fueled by a desire to address a real need, can pave the way for innovation in the healthcare fields‬
‭like the fitness world.‬

‭ ttending my professor’s class as well as gaining from personal experience, I believe that‬
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‭innovation is the lifeblood of progress. It's the engine that propels us towards solving problems,‬
‭creating new possibilities, and ultimately, shaping a better future. Without innovation, we'd be‬
‭stuck with outdated solutions, stagnant technologies, and limited ways of approaching‬
‭challenges. It's through innovative thinking that we develop life-saving medical treatments,‬
‭design sustainable solutions for environmental concerns, and continuously improve the way we‬
‭live, work, and interact with the world around us. In essence, innovation is the driving force‬
‭behind human advancement, ensuring we don't just survive, but thrive, in an ever-changing‬
‭world.‬

‭●‬ ‭Agility:‬

‭ gility in sports is precisely defined as "a rapid whole-body movement with change of velocity‬
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‭or direction in response to a stimulus" (Sheppard, 2005). Think of a soccer goalie reacting in a‬
f‭ lash to save a penalty kick – that's agility in action! But this valuable skill extends far beyond‬
‭the playing field. In real life, agility translates to being adaptable and quick-thinking in dynamic‬
‭situations. It's about adjusting your approach on the fly, whether it's prioritizing tasks when‬
‭deadlines shift suddenly or thinking on your feet during an unexpected conversation. Just like an‬
‭athlete responding to the game's flow, agility in real life equips you to navigate the ever-changing‬
‭currents of daily life with grace and efficiency.‬

‭ ake my experience transitioning into a fast-paced bartending role at a fine-dining restaurant in‬
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‭Surry Hills, as a reflection on agility. Despite lacking prior knowledge, I actively learned on the‬
‭job, prioritized tasks efficiently, delegated when possible, and remained calm under pressure‬
‭during unexpected customer surges or equipment malfunctions. By quickly adapting to this‬
‭dynamic environment, I ensured smooth service for the restaurant's clientele. This experience‬
‭exemplifies how agility extends beyond physical prowess; it's about mental flexibility and‬
‭composure, allowing me to navigate the ever-changing currents of life, both on and off the field.‬

‭III.‬ ‭Developing Creativity, Innovation, and Agility‬

‭ he self-reflection above reveals areas for further development, also in line with professional‬
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‭career‬

‭●‬ C
‭ reativity:‬ ‭Engaging in brainstorming or mind-mapping sessions or taking a creative‬
‭writing workshop can help further refine my creative problem-solving skills.‬

‭●‬ I‭ nnovation:‬ ‭Actively participating in hackathons or innovation contests can provide‬

‭opportunities to collaborate with diverse teams and generate solutions to real-world‬
‭challenges.‬

‭●‬ A
‭ gility:‬ ‭Taking improvisation classes and participating in fast-paced games that can‬
‭provide opportunities to practice quick decision-making and problem-solving under‬
‭pressure.‬

‭IV.‬ ‭Action Plan for developing these skills for future career‬

‭1.‬ ‭Goal 1: Cultivate Creative Problem-Solving (SMART Goal)‬

‭Objective 1.1: Expand Your Data Science Toolbox (January - March 2024)‬

‭●‬ ‭Strategy 1.1.1: Explore New Methodologies (January - March 2024).‬

‭Tasks:‬

‭➢‬ ‭Identify online courses or workshops focusing on advanced data analysis‬

‭techniques‬
‭➢‬ ‭Choose a methodology relevant to your interests and career goals.‬
‭➢‬ ‭Actively experiment with the concepts using real-world datasets.‬
 ‭Timeline: 3 months‬

‭●‬ ‭Strategy 1.1.2:‬‭Play with Data Science Tools‬‭(February - March 2024).‬

‭Tasks:‬

‭➢‬ ‭Research and experiment with various data science tools and libraries‬
‭(e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).‬
‭➢‬ ‭Participate in online challenges or "data playgrounds" to apply newly‬
‭learned tools creatively.‬

‭Timeline: 2 months‬

‭Objective 1.2: Cross-pollinate Your Data Skills (March - June 2024)‬

‭●‬ ‭Strategy 1.2.1: Delve into New Domains (March - April 2024).‬

‭Tasks:‬

‭➢‬ ‭Identify a field outside data science that intrigues you (e.g., finance,‬
‭healthcare, environment).‬
‭➢‬ ‭Find available datasets related to that domain.‬
‭➢‬ ‭Apply your data analysis skills to explore the data, uncover hidden‬
‭insights, and present your findings creatively (e.g., visualizations,‬
‭interactive dashboards).‬

‭Timeline: 2 months‬

‭●‬ ‭Strategy 1.2.2: Collaborate and Learn (April - June 2024).‬

‭Tasks:‬

➢
‭ ‬ ‭Engage with online communities of data scientists and enthusiasts.‬
‭➢‬ ‭Participate in discussions and share your creative approaches to data‬
‭analysis.‬
‭➢‬ ‭Learn from others' projects and perspectives to broaden your data science‬
‭skillset.‬

‭Timeline: 3 months‬

‭ onsiderations and Assumptions‬‭: Time management is crucial to balance learning activities with‬
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‭existing commitments.‬

‭2.‬ ‭Goal 2: Foster Innovation in Data Science (SMART Goal)‬

‭Objective 2.1: Deepen Data Science Knowledge (February - April 2024)‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Strategy 2.1.1: Participate in online data science communities (February - Ongoing).‬

‭Tasks:‬

➢
‭ ‬ ‭Join online forums and discussion groups focused on data science topics.‬
‭➢‬ ‭Actively engage in discussions, pose questions, and share insights.‬
‭➢‬ ‭Stay updated on the latest advancements and trending techniques in the‬
‭field.‬

‭Timeline: Ongoing‬

‭●‬ ‭Strategy 2.1.2: Complete online machine learning courses (March - April 2024).‬

‭Tasks:‬

‭➢‬ ‭Enroll in and complete chosen courses, mastering the concepts and‬
‭applications.‬
‭➢‬ ‭Work on practical exercises and projects to solidify your understanding.‬

‭Timeline: 2 months‬

‭Objective 2.2: Joining a Data Science Hackathon (May - June 2024)‬

‭●‬ ‭Strategy 2.2.1: Participate in a data science hackathon.‬

‭Tasks:‬

‭➢‬ ‭Form a team with fellow data science enthusiasts or participate‬

‭individually.‬
‭➢‬ ‭Thoroughly understand the presented challenge and brainstorm innovative‬
‭solutions.‬
‭➢‬ ‭Utilize data analysis and machine learning techniques to develop a‬
‭working prototype.‬

‭Timeline: following the competition‬

‭Considerations and Assumptions‬‭: Online courses and hackathons require time commitment‬

‭V.‬ ‭Conclusion‬

‭ his reflective portfolio has served as a valuable tool for self-discovery. By reflecting on my‬
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‭experiences with creativity, innovation, and agility, I have identified areas for growth and‬
‭developed a concrete action plan to enhance these critical skills. My commitment to continuous‬
‭learning and self-improvement will allow me to thrive in a dynamic world and contribute to‬
‭making this world a better place.‬
‭VI.‬ ‭Reference‬

‭1.‬ K
‭ aufman, J. C., & Sternberg, R. J. (2010). The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity. In‬‭Cambridge‬
‭University Press eBooks‬‭.‬‭https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511763205‬

‭2.‬ I‭ nnovation in Business: What it is & why it’s so important.‬‭(2022, March 8). Business Insights‬
‭Blog.‬‭https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/importance-of-innovation-in-business‬

‭3.‬ S
‭ heppard, J. M., & Young, W. (2005). Agility literature review: Classifications, training and‬
‭testing.‬‭Journal of Sports Sciences‬‭, 24(9), 919–932.‬‭https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410500457109‬

‭4.‬ W
‭ alker, O. (2024, January 17).‬‭Agility‬‭. Science for Sport.‬
‭https://www.scienceforsport.com/agility/‬

‭5.‬ W
‭ hat do you do if your data science career lacks the creative edge it needs?‬‭(2024, March 18).‬
‭www.linkedin.com.‬
‭https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/what-do-you-your-data-science-career-lacks-creative-a7mrc#:‬
‭~:text=%2D%20Take%20courses%20or%20attend%20workshops,and%20innovations%20in%20‬
‭data%20science‬‭.‬

‭6.‬ G
‭ oogle DeepMind. (2024).‬‭Gemini‬‭(Mar 19 version) [Large language model].‬
‭https://gemini.google.com/app‬