2.13. CREATIVE TENSIONS: MANAGING ANTITHESIS AND AMBIGUITY

When uncertainty is tolerated and accepted, creativity and innovation occur most easily within an organization. Organizations in which innovation is truly valued have a higher tolerance for failure and also emphasize the importance of collaboration in decreasing levels of uncertainty (Glynn, 1996). The following are other ways in which a healthy R&D workplace can be fostered.

  • Feedback. Management needs to give performance feedback to help scientists and engineers see the value of their work and understand their purpose.

  • Change Tasks. It is important to alter the nature and increase the complexity of tasks at hand. Challenging and important tasks make technical professionals take on more ...

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