The multicultural muse: Culture, creativity and innovation

Westwood, R; Low, D

The multicultural muse: Culture, creativity and innovation

Westwood, R Low, D

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Publisher:: Sage Publications Ltd
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 2003, 3 (2), pp. 235 - 259
Issue Date:: 2003-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Westwood, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Low, D	en_US
dc.date.issued	2003-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 2003, 3 (2), pp. 235 - 259	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1470-5958	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/10094
dc.description.abstract	This article explores the relationship between culture and creativity and innovation. It critically reviews the literature in which cross cultural differences in approaches to creativity and innovation are discussed. It first examines how creativity is conceptualized differentially across cultures and how social structural factors account for differences in creativity and innovation. Evidence for the impact of culture on cognitive style and personality as related to creativity and innovation is covered next. Finally, it addresses directly the relationship between cultural values and creativity/innovation. The article draws the following conclusions: (1) culture can and does impact on creative and innovation processes, but the relationship should not be considered universalistically, simplistically or unreflexively; (2) there is insufficient evidence to enable definitive statements to be made about systematic differences across cultures in personality or cognitive style with respect to creativity; (3) creativity and innovation are complex psychosocial processes involving numerous salient factors of which culture is but one; (4) the weight of evidence suggests that the relationship should be viewed contingently and in subtle and nuanced ways. A contingent view suggests that there are different processes, mechanisms, and structures through which creativity and innovation emerge. Cultures are creative and innovative within the context of their own systems and the exigencies and contingencies of those particular systems.	en_US
dc.publisher	Sage Publications Ltd	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Cross Cultural Management	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Business & Management	en_US
dc.title	The multicultural muse: Culture, creativity and innovation	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.for	1503 Business and Management	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.consider-herdc	false	en_US
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.volume	3	en_US

Abstract:

This article explores the relationship between culture and creativity and innovation. It critically reviews the literature in which cross cultural differences in approaches to creativity and innovation are discussed. It first examines how creativity is conceptualized differentially across cultures and how social structural factors account for differences in creativity and innovation. Evidence for the impact of culture on cognitive style and personality as related to creativity and innovation is covered next. Finally, it addresses directly the relationship between cultural values and creativity/innovation. The article draws the following conclusions: (1) culture can and does impact on creative and innovation processes, but the relationship should not be considered universalistically, simplistically or unreflexively; (2) there is insufficient evidence to enable definitive statements to be made about systematic differences across cultures in personality or cognitive style with respect to creativity; (3) creativity and innovation are complex psychosocial processes involving numerous salient factors of which culture is but one; (4) the weight of evidence suggests that the relationship should be viewed contingently and in subtle and nuanced ways. A contingent view suggests that there are different processes, mechanisms, and structures through which creativity and innovation emerge. Cultures are creative and innovative within the context of their own systems and the exigencies and contingencies of those particular systems.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/10094