Herding cats: managing creativity

The article discusses the management of creativity. There is always tension between creative employees, who value autonomy, and management imposing supervision and control.

Herding cats: managing creativity

Richard ScaseUniversity of Kent

As is well known, managing creative employees is rather like shepherding herds of cats. By 'creative', I mean those men and women who are at the core of innovative processes, whether they are working in the R&D departments of pharmaceutical companies, the makers of TV films or those working on campaigns in advertising agencies. Essentially, it is their ideas that are converted into the saleable products and services upon which the survival and growth of organisations depend. If their ideas dry up, so, too, does the lifeblood of their businesses.

Creative...

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