Implications of studies of organizational climates

Ekvall (1999) has studied organizational conditions that stimulate or hamper creativity. These elements have several implications for establishing a creative climate in technology education classrooms.

An essential element in any creative climate is challenge. A challenging environment brings out the best in people and requires individual commitment and motivation to succeed. A strong sense of passion and individual commitment is essential to sustain the effort required to achieve a creative solution to a technological problem. "Motivation makes the difference between what a person can do and what a person will do" (Amabile, 1987, p. 249). The challenge to teachers is to create a stimulating and exciting environment that takes the first step in motivating students to be creative.

Freedom is the ability to have some choice in the way things are done, the ability to find your own way, and the latitude to make mistakes and learn from them. These elements must be present for students to take the initiative to be creative. If everything is already spelled out then there is little opportunity for creativity.

Idea support requires teachers and students to value, support, and encourage each other's ideas. Creativity is highly personal and ideas that lack support will not be offered. People must listen to each other, and the climate must be positive and constructive. Diverse and non-traditional ideas must be particularly welcome.

Creativity cannot prosper without mutual trust and openness between students and the teacher. Individuals must be responsible and everyone must be able to offer their ideas without fear of ridicule. Creative ideas are intrinsically different and require tolerance and understanding to achieve their full potential.

Creative environments have a quality of dynamism and liveliness. An enthusiasm and zest for life seem to contribute to a creative environment. Excited, enthusiastic people, who are actively involved in doing things, contribute to a positive environment that stimulates more creativity. A give-and-take exchange and contributions from all members of the organization at all levels are important.

Playfulness and humor contribute much to the creative environment -- everything isn't life-or-death serious! Encouraging an element of playfulness and humor promotes a relaxed environment that contributes to the flow of ideas; even outrageous and funny ideas can be productive. It is also important to recognize that too much playfulness can affect productivity. The point is to achieve a balance -- too much playfulness and nothing gets accomplished, too little and the environment loses the relaxed atmosphere that is important for the development of creative ideas.

The debate of ideas from a variety of perspectives is healthy, and the truth often emerges from critique and argument. There are no losers in a debate when the truth comes out. An environment that can support and encourage the debate of ideas and not injure personalities and egos is important. People must be willing to debate and recognize that it is a healthy part of the process of developing a creative solution.

Risk taking is an essential element of the creative environment. "Active failure is the highway to success" (Kim, 1990, p. 86). A willingness to take a risk and not always stay with the safe, the comfortable, and the traditional is important to the creative environment. "Human beings cannot progress unless somehow they do things differently today from the way they did them yesterday ... you have to try out new ways of doing things. If you do, perhaps half of what you do will end in failure, but the other half will be linked to progress" (Shingo, 1987, p. 103).

Sufficient idea time is required to develop something that is creative and of value. The culture of the 3M Company encourages its employees to devote 15% of their time to the development of new products (Gundling, 2000). This time is institutionalized as a part of the 3M culture and contributes to the spirit of innovation that sustains the company and its employees.

Conflict in the environment of an organization is counterproductive. If conflict permeates the environment, then new ideas will be squashed (Ekvall, 1999). If conflict is present between students and the teacher, then the production of creative ideas will be diminished.

Isaksen and his colleagues concluded that "the more challenge, freedom, support, trust, prestige-free discussions, humor, and risk-taking the individual perceived in the immediate social work environment, the higher he or she rated the possibilities to act creatively" (Isaksen, 1994, p. 18). The challenge is to apply these findings to individual technology education classrooms.

Summary

For teachers of technology, the creative challenge is to understand the factors that contribute to a creative environment and implement them in their classrooms. "The accumulated body of research on climate and organizations undoubtedly indicates that climate makes a difference in creativity" (Ekvall, 1999, p. 407). The challenge is to apply this research to individual technology education classrooms. The environment can encourage or discourage creativity in the technology education classroom. Establishing a creative environment in technology education facilities can help students to become more creative.