Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Collaboration NOT Competition

Creativity and Innovation are often used interchangeably. From the above we can see that the two are separate and distinct. That is perhaps why the place of competition in the field of creativity and innovation is often misquoted:

a) Collaboration beats competition in creativity. What is required to generate good ideas is intellectual cross-pollination as opposed to a restriction of ideas