Creativity and Innovation

Definition

Creativity and Innovation is using an idea to make an improvement or to develop a new approach that will benefit the organization.

Core Motivation: To achieve objectives in creative and original ways

It's about:

• putting an idea into concrete actions to improve a current approach or developing a new approach that will benefit the organization;
• being resourceful, looking for innovative ways that may improve work processes or procedures, and developing new approaches that gain efficiencies for the organization;
• encouraging individuals to question the status quo, to be innovative;
• thinking outside the box to find new or different ways to do things that will add value for the organization.

Purpose of this competency for CRA

Creativity and Innovation encourages the contribution of innovative ideas and actions in the way the CRA does business.

Progression of scale - Originality of the approach and degree of effort required to translate ideas into actions

The Progression of the scale works together with the underlying notions, so it is important to consider this information as it indicates how the behaviours progress as you move from level 1 to level 4. The behaviours generally build on each other.

In other words, you may:

• be open to changing the way you do things;
• question whether the current approach is still the best;
• identify to the appropriate individual inefficiencies in your own activities that need improvement.

At this level, the originality of the approach and the degree of effort are minimal, as you notice the need in your work environment and reconsider the current approach without making any improvements to the approach yourself.

Example/Context

Paul realized that existing procedures within his work section did not cover all situations faced in his team workload. He asked if the procedures could be updated to include more usual situations and allow a better application.

In other words, you may:

• recognize that the situation calls for a different approach and identify an existing process from inside or outside your immediate work environment that will increase efficiency;
• make changes to a current approach to adjust or improve upon it;
• copy a process or product which is already used in the organization or recommend one that comes from elsewhere with little modification

At this level, greater efforts are required to offer alternatives and initiate improvements to current work practices. There is a small increase in the originality of the approach as you identify existing ideas or solutions that require little to no modification to implement.

Note: If you are not in a position of authority to implement the idea or solution you came up with, you may indicate the steps you took to come up with this idea and your recommended measures for its potential implementation.

Example/Context

Paul realized that existing procedures within his work section did not cover all situations faced in his team workload. He previously had worked in another section with a very similar workload. After reviewing the procedures from the other section he believed they were more appropriate. So Paul drew on the content of those procedures to make additions to the current procedures of his own work section.

In other words, you may:

• find ideas or concepts and integrate them in a different way to build an innovative approach;
• make significant amendments to an existing approach or process to optimize the current results.

At this level, it is difficult to identify an existing approach that would address the improvement needed. It is necessary to integrate various ideas and concepts in an original way so you can build an approach that will optimize the results. Therefore, there is a significant degree of effort required to make substantial modifications to existing ideas or concepts.

Example/Context

Paul realized that existing procedures within his work section did not cover all situations faced in his team workload. He conducted research and found that although there were procedures in other areas that did similar work, it was not possible to simply cut and paste existing procedures from those areas. Paul chose the best elements from those procedures, incorporated them into the current procedures of his work section, and also suggested other significant changes. He then presented the tailored procedures to Management for consideration.

In other words, you may:

• design a new model, framework, concept or approach to create an innovative solution;
• formulate a leading-edge solution that can be used in various applications

At this level, there is no precedent you can refer to so you need to formulate and come up with an innovative solution or approach, which has never been thought of before. Therefore a very high degree of effort is required since the idea has to be shaped into an approach that responds to the organization’s needs.

Example/Context

Claire suggested that a new business line should be created in the division to meet the changing needs of the Agency dealing with new technology commerce. No section currently existed to deal with these demands. Therefore, she prepared a business case to outline different strategies to realize the new business line and to increase compliance. After consultation with experts, she submitted her business case to senior management for approval.