The aim of this paper is to explore the transition from traditional measures to creativity and innovation measures within a number of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) case studies. The need for increased competitiveness has created an impetus for increased creativity and innovation in SMEs. However, the measures associated with the process of creativity and innovation in organisations sometimes do not follow cause-and-effect rationale, reflecting non-linear behaviour. A multiple SME-based case research methodology is used to explore the transitioning effects from traditional to more creativity and innovation based measures. The cases were part of a longitudinal creativity and innovation intervention programme, which combined taught modules and Critical Action Learning networks over a two-year period. These networks involved sub-groups applying critical theory-based study to the learning they had received in the modules. The findings reveal that the transition dynamics include a complex mix of cause and effect rationale, phenomenology, incremental change, radical change, quantitative, qualitative and linear and complex contrasts and comparisons. Thus, managers must facilitate an eclectic approach to creativity and innovation measures.

In order to survive in their market and differentiate themselves from the competition, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which represent more than 90% of companies worldwide, need to be creative and innovative. This book presents a conceptual framework for thinking about innovation and creativity in SMEs. It takes into account their strategic relation to their environment and the economic, technological and social changes that they face. Their ability to enhance their creativity with new ideas and to legitimize them during their implementation is also taken into account

Innovation is a vital process for any business to remain competitive in this age. This progress must be coherently and optimally managed, allowing for successful improvement and future growth. The Handbook of Research on Strategic Innovation Management for Improved Competitive Advantage provides emerging research on the use of information and knowledge to promote development in various business agencies. While covering topics such as design thinking, financial analysis, and policy planning, this publication explores the wide and complex relationships that constitute strategic innovation management principals and processes. This publication is an important resource for students, professors, researchers, managers, and entrepreneurs seeking current research on the methods and tools regarding information and knowledge management for business advancement.

As organizations continue to develop and adapt in today’s modern society, various approaches have begun to emerge as managers look for the best techniques to improve company performance. Appreciative inquiry is the practice of maintaining a positive and optimistic environment within the workplace, and it’s a concept that has transformed many corporations as it spread across the globe. Understanding this powerful shift in employee perception requires considerable research on how appreciative inquiry is affecting various companies worldwide. Appreciative Inquiry Approaches to Organizational Transformation provides emerging research that serves to increase the productivity of individuals and organizations exponentially by sharing case studies from organizations where appreciative inquiry has been implemented successfully as well as best practices that can benefit organizations and common pitfalls that can be avoided by becoming more vigilant. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as individual execution, productivity, and occupational solutions, this book is ideally designed for managers, practitioners, corporate professionals, executives, researchers, educators, and students.

This volume gathers the latest advances and innovations in the triple helix of university-industry-government relations, as presented by leading international researchers at the II International Triple Helix Summit 2018, held in Dubai, UAE on November 10-13, 2018, which brought together experts, practitioners and academics across disciplines that address the dynamics of government, industry and academia. It covers analysis, theory, measurements and empirical enquiry in all aspects of university-industry-government interactions, as well as the international bases and dimensions of triple helix relations, their impacts, and social, economic, political, cultural, health and environmental implications. It also examines the role of government/academia/industry in building innovation-based cities and nations, and in transforming nations into knowledge-based sustainable economies. The contributions, which were selected by means of a rigorous international peer-review process, highlight numerous exciting ideas that will spur novel research directions and foster multidisciplinary collaboration among different specialists.

There is a growing interest in broadening the measurement scope of innovation and considering “creative” activities, meaning that the usual indicators of innovation satisfy neither scholars nor policy makers. Conceptually, there is not much difference between innovative and creative activity: but to what extent are current measures that capture innovation relevant for creativity? Can the new measures for creativity benefit from the experience accumulated through R&D and innovation? Our article provides insights and lessons learned from using measures of innovative activities for scholars who are interested in capturing creative activities. We underscore the difficulties faced when measuring innovation and draw some parallels of these difficulties with the efforts undertaken to measure creativity.