BUS505 Complete Course Latest 2021 April (Full)

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 1 Discussion

Application of Concepts

From your exposure to course resources, reflect on your understanding of the difference between creativity, discovery, and innovation. Select one area and share your thoughts on its importance in meeting an organization’s vision or mission.

Creative Thinking

Reflect on what you have explored in this unit about creative thinking in organizations. Share one creative thinking trait or type that you possess or hope to cultivate in the coming weeks. Explain your answer.

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 2 Discussion

Drivers of Innovation

Innovation is the key to business growth and competitive advantage.  As such, we must create conditions in which innovation can strive in organizations.  A starting point is to explore the different drivers that provide opportunities to enhance innovation.  According to Ruyle, The Real Drivers of Innovation are experts. Why do you agree or disagree with Ruyle’s assertion? Identify the internal and external drivers of innovation for your current organization or a past organization.  Analyze their effectiveness in driving innovation in your organization. Use examples to support your assertion.

In response to your peers, compare and contrast your organization’s drivers of innovation with theirs and explore the effectiveness of their organization drivers.

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 3 Discussion

Root Cause Analysis

What do you usually do when you have a problem at work? Do you go straight to treating the symptoms of the problem, do you first look to determine if there is a deeper issue that needs your attention so the problem does not reoccur, or do you do something else? Think about the last major problem you had at work. Use Root Cause analysis to discover the actual underlying cause of the problem. Share your Root Cause analysis process with your classmates by posting your analysis to the discussion board.

Review your team members’ Room Cause Analysis process. Discuss the root causes of the problems and their origins. Question or expand upon the solutions selected to address the root causes.

 

 

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 4 Discussion

Myths of Creativity

Reflect on the myths of creativity explored in this unit.  How have you experienced these myths in your own life?  How did any of the myths about creativity surprise you? How has your thinking changed as a result? Explain your answers.

Elements of the creative process

Creativity is a process. As such there are certain elements that facilitate that process. Select one of the elements of the creative process discussed in the readings.  Analyze how your organization manages this process. For example, what techniques can be employed to ensure that this process works well when it comes to creativity. Include a link to at least one additional resource that supports your position.

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 5 Discussion

Mental Blocks

Functional fixedness is a common mental block. It is a type of cognitive bias or mental block that limits us to seeing objects as only working in a particular or traditional way.  It prevents you from using an object in a new way or function to solve a problem. Reber, Allen, and Reber, (2009) define functional fixedness as, “A conceptual set whereby objects that have been used for one function tend to be viewed as serving only that function even though the situation may call for their use in a different context. For example, a hammer just used for pounding nails may not be perceived as appropriate for use as a pendulum weight. Also called “functional fixity”. Describe a situation when you experienced functional fixedness. Explain how this mental block impacted you and what you tried to overcome it.    What was the outcome? Explain and analyze.

In response to your peers, explore what seemed to work or not work, and why. What other ways of addressing the situation could have been used?

Barriers to Innovation & Creativity

The best strategy used to remove barriers to creativity and innovation is to encourage activities that generate creative ideas to promote innovative solutions and motivate individuals to think creatively. In the article, Breaking Down the Barriers to Innovation, Scott, Cobban, Nair, and Painchaud (2019)  identified examples of behavior enablers, artifacts, and nudges (BEAN) at work within organizations across industries.  Read the article carefully to identify the BEANs that firms have used to unleash innovation and the characteristics that make these BEANs effective. Then reflect and address the following.

Describe one barrier to innovation in your current or a previous organization. Develop a BEAN that you could use to breakdown that barrier. Explain why you believe this BEAN is an effective way to break down this barrier.

In response to your peers, critique the choice of BEAN. What is an alternative?

 

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 6 Discussion

Using Sustainability as a Driving Force for Creativity and Innovation

Organizations are using sustainability innovation to establish a competitive advantage. Pick two of the organizations from the video resources above. Explore how these organizations use sustainability to drive innovation.  Are there similarities in the strategies?  How does your organization use sustainability to drive innovation?  Explain. 

In response to your peers, add to and question their analysis.

Exploring Responsible Innovation

Organizations are now using responsible innovation to establish a competitive advantage. As such, ethical considerations and sustainability have become popular in ensuring responsible innovation in organizations. Discuss the limits in terms of the contexts in which these types of innovation can be used and the kinds of innovations that can be applied. Furthermore, discuss responsible innovation such as ethical consideration and sustainability limit the innovation process.  Provide examples to support your assertion.

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 7 Discussion

Creative and Innovative Leadership

Based upon this week’s readings and your experience, what are the traits of successful leaders in a creative and innovative organization? Cite specific examples. How are these leadership traits different from that of a non-innovative organization? Analyze the leadership traits in your organization. Do these traits enhance or impede creativity and innovation?

Discuss the qualities with each other and explore whether creative and innovative traits are in someone’s nature or whether it is or can be nurtured?

Using the Prompt Method to Create a Compelling Story

As a student who has newly acquired knowledge regarding creativity and innovation, one of your challenges will be to sell your creative ideas effectively, to your peers, executives, and other stakeholders. Therefore, this exercise will help you to develop your narrative capabilities so you can wrap persuasive verbal imagery around your offerings to make an emotional appeal.

“This is a creative idea, but we cannot consider it since it has never been done before.” This is a response from a stakeholder regarding a creative idea that you recommended to enhance your organization’s creativity and innovation. Use this response as the prompt and incorporate it into a story to convince this stakeholder that creativity and innovation are important to the organization’s growth, performance, and competitive advantage.  Your story should be clear, concise, and the context suitable for your organization setting. Make it also memorable and engaging so it is easy for stakeholders and listeners to understand. Lastly, make elements of your story actionable so that your audience gets a takeaway of what they are going to implement after they hear your story. Your story should be no more than 300 words.

In response to your peers, discuss how convincing the story is.

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 8 Discussion

What will the future look like?

After 8 weeks of intensive study and reflection on the complex subject of creativity, discovery, and innovation, what do you project for future challenges, trends, and opportunities for organizations?  Will organizations embrace innovation or revert to production? Should they and will it be done the same as now or in a different way? Where are we going when it comes to being an innovative society? Support at least one of your ideas with one academic reference, appropriately cited.  Feel free to use more supporting documentation.

Burning Questions (optional)

Share the questions that remain for you at the end of the course.

Lessons Learned (optional)

Share with us your best learning from this course.

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 1 Assignment

Creativity, Discovery, Innovation

Overview:

In this assignment, you are exploring the potential for the continued success of a personal favorite high performing business organization to share with prospective investors. The elements of Creativity, Discovery, and Innovation, as we have explored them in this unit, are foundational to the success of high performing organizations. This activity will provide an opportunity for you to deepen your understanding of each element and its importance to the continued success of the organization.      You will identify and analyze the evidence of these elements as they serve to support the high performing status of the business organization you have identified.

Instructions:

•             First, research and identify a business organization or company of interest that you believe is currently high performing or has a promising future.

o             What about the organization or company that has captured your attention?

o             From your reading and research, characterize and support your assessment of the status of the organization as highly successful, somewhat successful, or challenged in its pursuit of high success.

•             Describe your company of choice and your assessment of its success.

•             Briefly share your assessment of the place of Creativity, Discovery, and Innovation in the company you have chosen.

o             Provide evidence for your assessment from unit resources.

o             Differentiate how each element is unique and differs from others.

•             Based on your examination of the information shared regarding the status of each concept in the organization or company, address the following.

o             What is the potential for continued and future success of the organization?

o             With respect to your understanding of the elements, what is working, and what is not working?

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 2 Assignment

Solving Problems with Design Thinking

Overview:

Design thinking in business and other settings supports the work of organizational managers pursuing creative outcomes to solve problems. In this assignment you will write a paper to explore a design thinking scenario to deepen your understanding of design thinking as a tool supporting the process of resolving challenging organizational issues.

Instructions:

•             Review the following from the unit Readings and Resources:

o             Chapter 1 of the e-book, Dispelling the Moses Myth.

o             The table of contents and Chapter 1 of Solving Problems with Design Thinking: Ten Stories of What Works.

•             Select one of the 10 chapters from Solving Problems with Design Thinking: Ten Stories of What Works.

•             Summarize the scenario in the chapter you selected.

•             Address the following:

o             Part 1: What ways did the process described reflect the D4G design thinking approach of four basic questions?

o             Part 2: Address any two (2) of the following:

1.            Evidence of a focus on discovery over solutions.

2.            Evidence of how problem solving and solutions boundaries were expanded.

3.            Evidence of enthusiasm in engaging partners in the work efforts.

4.            Evidence of commitment to real-world experiments rather than conducting analysis and using historical data.

 

 

 

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 3 Assignment

Generating Ideas with SCAMPER

You have been exposed to a number of approaches that organizations call upon to advance creative thinking. Among those techniques, one of the better recognized and utilized is SCAMPER, a creativity tool that is a form of brainstorming. In this assignment, you will be asked to analyze and implement SCAMPER using an existing product or service in your organization that needs improvement. Use the attached SCAMPER worksheet to complete this assignment.

Overview:

You have been exposed to a number of approaches that organizations call upon to advance creative thinking. Among those techniques, one of the better recognized and utilized is SCAMPER, a creativity tool that is a form of brainstorming. In this assignment, you will be asked to analyze and implement SCAMPER using an existing product or service in your organization that needs improvement. Use the attached SCAMPER worksheet to complete this assignment.

Instructions:

Complete the SCAMPER Worksheet:

1.            Using the resources in this unit or additional web resources, prepare a brief statement of three sentences maximum describing SCAMPER as a creativity tool.

o             Address at least three of the techniques.

o             Describe their importance in terms of the creative process.

2.            Complete the SCAMPER table:

o             In the third column:

?             Pose questions pertaining to the service or product you identified in each of the SCAMPER areas characterized by the pneumonic.

?             Apply the SCAMPER process to come up with ideas to present to our manager.

3.            Address the following at the bottom of the worksheet:

o             Identify and describe your service or product and provide a rational.

o             Review your ideas and answer the following questions:

1.            Do any idea(s) stand out as viable solutions? Explain.

2.            Could any of the ideas be used to create a new service or product or to redesign an existing one? Explain.

 

 

 

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 5 Assignment

Presentation

Overview:

This team assignment will be started in Unit 4 in your group discussion with the final presentation submitted in Unit 5. There are two purposes for this assignment: (1) illustrate the process by which one uses the Subtraction Method to encourage new product innovation; (2) use the management and communications tools you have been learning about to work effectively in a creative virtual team setting.

Instructions:

Read the “Less Is More: How Industry Giants Like Apple and Philips Really Innovate” case study. Working in your group discussion forum, complete the following:

•             Set up your team structure:

o             Decide on a team name.

o             Select a leader who will assume the following responsibilities:

?             Moderate the discussion and monitor team efforts to remain on task.

?             Submit the group’s work for the group assignment.

o             Assign tasks and responsibilities to team members:

?             Recorder – summarize group discussions/exercise in a document shared with the group.

?             Reporter –finalizes the deliverable which may be a PowerPoint with notes, voice over narration and creative elements using creative software such as Prezi, audio, video, or other selected creative presentation functions.

o             Set a schedule/timeline for completion of project work requirements.

•             Analyze the case study by applying the Subtraction Method:

o             Generate a list of the most common laundry detergents.

o             Identify the key component of laundry detergent.

 o            Identify the function of that component.

o             Remove the component.

o             Visualize the resulting form of the product.

o             Consider whether there are needs that a detergent without the removed component might fulfill.

o             Consider whether there are any obstacles to overcome in implementing the new product.

o             Present the ideas and discuss the possible new products that might emerge from this process.

o             Select and describe one real world product not mentioned in the case that grew out of application of the Subtraction Method.

 

•             Develop a creative presentation using a medium of your choice to share your team findings.

Requirements:

•             Include notes or voice over to elaborate major ideas and clarify points presented.

•             Include a References list in APA format.

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 6 Assignment

Individual Team Reflection

Overview:

In this assignment, you will reflect on your virtual team project experience.

Instructions:

Examine your Virtual Team experience by addressing the following:

•             Evaluate how well your team performed.

•             Identify the communications methods the team used and assess the effectiveness of these methods.

•             Identify and evaluate the conflicts that occurred and assess the conflict resolution methods utilized by the team.

•             Provide three recommendations for improvement of the team process.

•             Submit individual participation levels for each team member by week.

o             Each team member was expected to participate in the team project a minimum of three times per week.

o             Calculate an individual’s level as a percentage based on overall participation in the project.

o             The levels for the entire team per week should add up to 100%.

Requirements:

•             Subimt an APA formatted Word document.

•             Length of no more than 3 pages excluding the title and reference pages.

•             Include at least two resources.

Be sure to read the criteria by which your work will be evaluated before you write and again after you write.

 

 

 

BUS505 Organizational Creativity, Discovery and Innovation

Unit 8 Assignment

Final Project: Organization Evaluation

For this assignment, you will identify an organization and assess its creativity, discovery, and innovation.  This is an individual assignment structured to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the materials studied in this course by applying what you have learned to a specific company or organization of interest to you.

Overview:

For this assignment, you will identify an organization and assess its creativity, discovery, and innovation. This is an individual assignment structured to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the materials studied in this course by applying what you have learned to a specific company or organization of interest to you.

Instructions:

•             Identify an organization or business that is of interest to you. You should be intimately familiar with the management and operations practices of this organization.

•             You may change the name of the organization to keep your assessment private. but please indicate that you have changed the name in your work.

•             Describe the organization you select as the subject of your project and its defining characteristics. Explain why you chose the organization. If the organization is large you are free to focus on a division, department, practice or product initiative of the organization.

•             Conduct a Critical Analysis of how the organization and its approach to creativity, discovery and innovation. Identify and apply course concepts and principles explored throughout the term and respond to nine Critical Analysis Components of Organizations provided below. Be specific and clear in making linkages.

Paper Organization:

A.            Title Page

B.            Brief Description of the subject organization

C.            Explanation of why the organization was selected including information that offers defining characteristics of the organization and informs the status of the organization’s innovation and creativity.

 D.           Critical Analysis Components of the Organization:

1.            Internal and external drivers of innovation in the organization.

2.            The role design thinking plays in creative problem-solving in the organization.

3.            Evaluation of the role managers and leaders within the organization play as change leaders.

4.            How idea generation is used to solve problems, enhance core competencies, gather consumer insights, etc.

5.            Myths perpetuated by the organization.

6.            Elements of the creative process within the organization.

7.            Barriers to creativity and innovation within the organization. Assess how the barriers occur and are addressed.

8.            Responsible innovation and ethical approaches and issues the organization faces.

9.            The role of leadership in creating, managing, and sustaining innovation in the organization.

10.          Future creativity and innovation within the organization.

E.            Recommendations and Lessons

•             Specific recommendations for improvement must be based upon the lessons learned as a result of your analysis. If there are no clear suggestions for improvement suggest how what this organization does can be transferred to another organization(s), department, or units.

•             Your assessment should provide at least six recommendations for improvement or transferrable lessons based on your analysis

F.            Conclusion

G.           Reference Page including at least six scholarly sources to support your work.

Requirements:

•             This assignment is due Friday 11:59 pm

 •            You may choose the format for your deliverable. Make use of your creativity in determining a format that you believe best permits you to cover and respond to all required elements of this assignment.

•             APA reference format, including an in-text citation for referenced works.

•             At least six (6) resources.

Be sure to read the criteria by which your work will be evaluated before you write and again after you write.