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C "oncurrence""

What Businesses Can Learn from Arts.

April 2015. Volume 1

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‘The!world!of!arts!must!be!rescued!out!of!the!

prison!of!entertainment!and!the!world!of!business!

must!be!led!out!of!the!desert!of!dullness!of!

meaning!’!

9!Miha!Pogacnik.!Concert!violinist,!Slovenian!Cultural!Ambassador,!Adjunct!professor!of!Art!

and!Leadership!at!IEDC!–!Bled!School!of!Management.!

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Inception!!

Concurrence.!The$definition,$as$per$Webster’s$online$dictionary,$is$the$simultaneous$occurrence$of$events$or$circumstances.$Also,$an$agreement$or$union$in$action$:$cooperation.$$We$could$not$ think$of$a$better$name$for$our$e>magazine,$which$will$attempt$ to$explore$ the$agreement$or$union$of$Art$and$Business$worlds,$to$create$new$ideas,$learnings$and$more.$$Can$ the$world$of$ business$ learn$ from$ the$world$of$ the$ arts?$And$ the$artist?$Can$ these$ two$spaces$that$so$rarely$unite$ look$at$each$other$differently,$with$new$energy$and$ insight?$And$can$those$new$insights$lead$to$new$solutions,$to$invention$and$innovation?$$$Design$guru$and$author$of$The$Laws$of$Simplicity,$John$Maeda$said$in$an$interview$in$late$2014$that$“We!seem!to!forget!that!innovation!doesn't!just!come!from!equations!or!new!kinds!of!

chemicals,!it!comes!from!a!human!place.!Innovation!in!the!sciences!is!always!linked!in!some!

way,! either!directly!or! indirectly,! to!a!human!experience.!And!human!experiences!happen!

through!engaging!with!the!arts!–!listening!to!music,!say,!or!seeing!a!piece!of!art.”!

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He$went$on$ to$ add:$ “Superior! innovation! comes! from! bringing! divergents! (the! artists! and!

designers)!and!convergents!(science!and!engineering)!together.”!

$Our$magazine$will$ have$ this$ simple$agenda:$ to$ talk$ about$ the$ convergence$of$ the$worlds$of$arts$ and$ business.$ In$ our$ inaugural$ issue,$we$ have$ a$ rich$mix$ of$ content$ that,$we$ feel,$ will$speak$more$on$this$idea.$$We$spoke$to$Biren$Ghose,$Country$Head$of$Technicolor$ India$and$found$out$how$one$of$the$world’s$most$advanced$studios$ leverage$creativity$ to$deliver$blockbuster$movies$around$ the$world.$And$why$arts$matter$to$creative$people.$$Our$ partner$ in$ Italy,$ Leonardo$ Previ,$ the$ President$ of$ Trivioquadrivio,$ writes$ on$ how$Innovation$can$benefit$from$artistic$thinking.$$Our$ partner$ in$ Australia,$ Dr.Cathryn$ Lloyd$ of$Maverick$Minds$ sends$ us$ her$ ideas$ on$ how$ a$culture$of$learning$can$be$augmented$through$Art>Based$Learnings.$$And$a$lot$more.$Articles,$book$reviews,$write>ups.$$Concurrence$will$appear$ in$your$email$box$every$quarter.$This$ is$our$first$edition,$and$I$hope$you$will$enjoy$reading$it.$Please,$do$share$your$feedback,$to$help$us$improve.$$Looking$forward,$with$excitement,$$

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Contents!

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$ $ Page$Inception$ Concurrence$ 3$Happenings$ A$Little$Context,$Please:$The$IBM$Global$CEO$Study$ 6$Exploration$ Art$–$a$tool$to$Develop$Leadership.$Are$We$Ready?$ 10$Tete>a>tete$ A$Conversation$with$Biren$Ghose$ 12$Exploration$ What$Entrepreneurs$can$Learn$from$Artists$ 20$Point$of$View$ Leonardo$Previ:$Looking$For$Innovation$ 24$Happenings$ Training$The$Eye:$Art$Education$in$Medicine$and$Management$ 28$Point$of$View$ Dr.Cathryn$Lloyd:$A$Culture$of$Creativity$ 33$Book$Review$ What$If$ 39$And$In$The$End$ $ 43$'

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!“What!the!arts!allow!us!to!do!is!

develop!the!muscle!required!for!

discernment,!and!also!strengthen!our!sense!of!

agency!to!determine!for!ourselves!how!we’re!

going!to!tackle!a!given!problem.!Especially!when!

you’re!young,!it’s!one!of!the!few!times!there’s!no!

set!path!that!someone!can!point!you!to!go!down!

to!figure!out!the!answer!to!a!problem!you’re!

trying!to!solve.!If!you’re!in!a!math!or!science!class!

and!you’re!trying!to!learn!different!equations,!

there’s!an!answer!and!you’re!trying!to!arrive!at!it.!

But!if!I’m!drawing!a!beautiful!plant—say!I!wanted!

to!make!the!lines!really!thick.!The!teacher!can’t!

come!over!and!say,!“You!know,!the!lines!should!be!

thinner.”!There’s!no!should,!really.!Ultimately!it’s!

up!to!the!person!creating!the!work!to!determine!

what!the!path!is,!and!that!kind!of!agency!is!

what’s!required!for!innovation.”!

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('Sarah'Lewis,'author'of'‘The'Rise:'Creativity,'the'Gift'of'Failure,'and'the'Search'for'Mastery’.'As'published'in'Technology'Review.'

$(More$at$http://www.technologyreview.com/qa/526436/theDunderappreciatedDtiesDbetweenDartDandDinnovation/)$$$$$$

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Happenings!

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A'Little'Context,'Please.'!

Between'September'2009'and'January'2010,'IBM'interviewed'1,541'CEOs,'general'managers'and'senior'public'sector'leaders$who$represent$different$sizes$of$organizations$in$60$countries$and$33$industries$as$a$part$of$the$biennial$Global$CEO$Study$series,$led$by$the$IBM$Institute$for$Business$Value$and$IBM$Strategy$&$Change.$In$addition$to$CEO$interviews,$a$subset$of$the$CEO$Study$Questions$were$asked$to$3,619$students$from$more$than$100$major$universities$around$the$world.$This$first$IBM$Student$Study$provides$insight$into$the$views$of$future$leaders.$$!

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And! the! most! interesting! finding! emerged! 9! Creativity! is! the! most!

important!leadership!quality,!according!to!CEOs.$$$Successful$CEOs$and$their$companies$practice$and$encourage$experimentation$and$innovation$throughout$ their$ organizations.$ Creative$ leaders$ expect$ to$ make$ deeper$ business$ model$changes$to$realize$their$strategies.$To$succeed,$they$take$more$calculated$risks,$find$new$ideas,$and$keep$innovating$in$how$they$lead$and$communicate.$$

$Creative$leaders$invite$disruptive$innovation,$encourage$others$to$drop$outdated$approaches$and$take$balanced$risks.$They$are$open>minded$and$inventive$in$expanding$their$management$and$ communication$ styles,$ particularly$ to$ engage$ with$ a$ new$ generation$ of$ employees,$partners$and$customers.$!

CEOs$recognize$that$leading$creatively$will$require$them$to$shed$some$long>held$beliefs.$Their$approaches$need$to$be$original,$rather$than$traditional.$They$must$be$distinct$and,$at$times,$radical$ in$ their$conception$and$execution,$not$ just$marginally$better$ than$existing$models$or$methods.$Or,$as$one$Telecommunications$CEO$in$India$put$it:$“Creativity$in$everything.”$$$Creativity$ is$often$defined$as$ the$ability$ to$bring$ into$existence$ something$new$or$different,$but$ CEOs$ elaborated.$ Creativity$ is$ the$ basis$ for$ “disruptive$ innovation$ and$ continuous$ re>invention,”$a$Professional$ Services$CEO$ in$ the$United$States$ told$us.$And$ this$ requires$bold,$

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breakthrough$thinking.$Leaders,$they$said,$must$be$ready$to$upset$the$status$quo$even$if$it$is$successful.$They$must$be$comfortable$with$and$committed$to$ongoing$experimentation.$$$Commit!to!upsetting!the!status!quo!!

Standout$CEOs$expressed$ little$ fear$of$ re>examining$ their$own$creations$or$proven$ strategic$approaches.$ In$ fact,$ 74%$ of$ them$ took$ an$ iterative$ approach$ to$ strategy,$ compared$ to$ 64$percent$ of$ other$ CEOs.$ Standouts$ rely$ more$ on$ continuously$ re>conceiving$ their$ strategy$versus$an$approach$based$on$formal,$annual$planning.$$

It$is$no$longer$sufficient$to$think,$manage$or$delegate$based$on$traditional$time$horizons$or$ strategic$ planning$ cycles.$ Both$ new$threats$and$emerging$opportunities$ require$an$ ability$ to$ see$ around$ corners,$ predict$outcomes$where$possible,$act$despite$some$uncertainty,$and$then$start$all$over$again.$Of$course,$ no$ one$ advocated$ making$ ill>considered$ judgments,$ but$ avoiding$unnecessary$ delays$ was$ a$ recurring$

ambition.$ “The$world$ is$ spinning$ faster,”$ said$ a$Government$CEO$ in$Australia.$ “We$need$ to$keep$pace.”$$Break!ground!with!new!business!models!

To$better$understand$creative$ leadership,$the$researchers$ looked$more$closely$at$only$those$CEOs$who$selected$creativity$as$one$of$three$top$leadership$qualities.$And$found$them$to$be$much$more$prepared$to$innovate$and$between$10$and$20%$more$likely$to$pursue$innovation$through$business$model$change.$$Historically,$ business$models$ have$ changed$ from$ time$ to$ time.$ But$ now$ these$ changes$ are$occurring$ in$ rapid>fire$ succession.$ In$ the$ words$ of$ an$ Industrial$ Products$ CEO$ in$ Japan,$ “A$business$model$is$not$absolute,$but$must$adapt$to$environmental$change.”$CEOs$must$be$able$to$ test,$ tweak$ and$ redesign$ their$ core$ activities$ continually.$ Today,$ partnerships,$ revenue$models$and$a$host$of$core$business$decisions$require$modification$in$light$of$the$fast>changing$forces$ impacting$ their$ organizations.$ To$operate$more$ effectively$ in$ a$ volatile$ environment,$creative$ leaders$ strongly$ encourage$ and$ experiment$ with$ all$ types$ of$ business$ model$innovation.$$And$ it’s$ not$ sufficient$ to$ be$ prepared$ for$ it$ personally.$ They$ must$ equip$ their$ entire$organization$to$be$a$catalyst$for$creativity.$For$most$leadership$teams,$this$requires$an$entirely$new$set$of$capabilities.$A$Media$and$Entertainment$CEO$in$the$United$States$said,$“We$need$to$find,$recognize$and$reward$creativity.”$$$CEOs' saw' the' need' to' seed' creativity' across' their' organizations' rather' than' set' apart'“creative'types”' in'siloed'departments' like'product'design.$To$benefit$from$the$diversity$of$ideas$ each$ employee$ can$ contribute,$ Standouts$ encourage$ a$ new$ mindset$ of$ questioning.$

“Creativity!means!new!ways!of!

solving!tough!problems.!Many!

challenges!require!innovative!

thinking.”!

('David'Rankin,'Chief'Executive,'Auckland'City'

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They$ invite$employees$at$all$ levels$ to$challenge$assumptions$based$on$past$experiences$and$scrutinize$“the$way$we’ve$always$done$things.”$$$In'addition'to' leading'differently,'CEOs'and'their' teams'are'communicating'differently.$To$communicate$with$customers$and$employees,$they$are$experimenting$with$and$assessing$the$results$of$using$many$newer$types$of$digital$media$and$social$networking$channels.$$$Successful$ companies$ reported$ a$ better$ balance$ of$ communication$ approaches.$ They$acknowledge$ the$ continued$ importance$ of$ communications$ “from$ the$ top,”$ especially$ to$establish$clarity$of$purpose$and$company$values.$But$they$also$are$embracing$“viral”$forms$of$communication$to$engage$those$inside$and$outside$their$organizations.$$$Breaking! from! the! past,! CEOs!made! a! bold! choice! in! naming! creativity! their!

premier!leadership!quality.!Traditionally,!leaders!were!most!admired!for!other!

qualities,!like!operational!excellence,!strategic!vision!or!engineering!big!deals.!

There! is! a! strong! sense! that! CEOs! are! embarking! on! a! significant! shift,! both!

personally! and! for! their! organizations! as! a! whole.! Committing! to! creativity,!

they! understand! the! need! to! challenge! their! most! basic! assumptions,! and!

reconceive!what!it!takes!to!be!successful!

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The'Study'Summarised'this'section'by'asking:'“Are'you'leading'creatively?”'• How$ will$ you$ develop$ the$ critical$ capabilities$ to$ enhance$ creativity$ among$ your$

leadership$team?$$• In$ what$ ways$ can$ you$ explore,$ reward$ and$ globally$ integrate$ diverse$ and$

unconventional$points$of$view?$$• What$is$your$approach$to$challenge$every$element$of$your$business$model$to$get$the$

most$from$currently$untapped$opportunities?$$• How$will$you$leverage$new$communication$styles,$technologies$and$tools,$both$to$lead$

a$new$generation$of$talent$and$encourage$breakthrough$thinking?$$$Any!answers?!

$$$$$$$$$$Source:$http://wwwD935.ibm.com/services/in/ceo/ceostudy2010/$$$$

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$Let’s!Talk!

Art''–'a'tool'to'Develop!Leadership.!Are'We'Ready?!$$

Dan' Pink,' in' his' book'A' Whole' New'Mind$(2005),$argues$ that$ left>brain$linear,$ analytical$ computer>like$thinking$ are$ being$ replaced$ by$ right>brain$ empathy,$ inventiveness,$ and$understanding$ as$ skills$ most$ needed$by$ business.$ Pink$ points$ to$ Asia,$automation,$ and$ abundance$ as$ the$reasons$behind$the$shift.!$Pink' says' "Logical' and' precise,' left(brain' thinking' gave' us' the'Information' Age.' Now' comes' the'Conceptual! Age' (' ruled' by' artistry,'empathy,'and'emotion."''Creativity$ is$ a$ core$ competency$ for$leaders$ and$ managers,$ and$ a$ crucial$component$ of$ the$ innovation$equation.$ Creativity$ requires$ whole>brain$thinking;$right>brain$imagination,$

artistry$and$intuition,$plus$left>brain$logic$and$planning.$Organizations'led'by'creative'leaders'have'a'higher'success'rate'in'innovation,'employee'engagement,'change'and'renewal.$$$Generating$fresh$solutions$to$problems,$and$the$ability$to$create$new$products,$processes$or$services$ for$ a$ changing$market,$ are$ part$ of$ the$ intellectual$ capital$ that$ give$ a$ company$ its$competitive$edge.$$

Art!is!an!invitation!to!have!a!conversation.!

Art$can$be$a$potent$catalyst$for$a$deeper$inquiry$into$business$issues,$providing$the$means$for$'artful$ reflection'$ in$ organizational$ development.$ As$ we$ have$ seen,$ arts$ can$ offer$ non>threatening$ social$ environments$ that$ foster$ non>judgmental$ exchange$ of$ ideas,$ reduces$chances$of$conflicts$and$offers$variety$and$alternatives$to$all$parties$to$look$into.$Through'art'we' can'make' it' safe' ask' the' deeper' questions' that' lead' to' the' emotional' truth' about' a'

Medical'Students.'Buddying'MBAs.'Business'Leaders.'Everyone'is'Getting'a'Dose'of'Arts!'And!it!isn’t!to!

improve!their!

handwriting!'$

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situation.'Art'creates'a'bonding'experience'that'facilitates'collaboration'and'accelerates'the'ability'get'to'the'heart'of'a'problem.'That'is'because'images'can'externalize'the'unconscious'and'make'tacit'knowledge'visible,'to'be'explored'further.$$Firstly,$ the$ fundamental$ idea$ is$ that$ by$ exposing$ people$ to$ arts$ and$ to$ the$ artistic$ process$creation,$ people’s$ skills$ can$ grow,$ particularly$ in$ domains$ such$ as$ design,$ creativity$ and$imagination,$ personal$ communication$ and$ improvisation.$ In$ today’s$ complex$ and$ fast>changing$ business$ context$ (think$ VUCA)$ these$ competences$ are$ becoming$ increasingly$

important$ as$ essential$ features$ of$ knowledge$workers’$capabilities.$For$example,$ improvisation$is$ a$managerial$ skill$ that$ is$ acknowledged$ as$ an$important$ factor,$ grounding$ the$ ability$ to$respond$ spontaneously$ and$ under$ pressure$ to$problems$ and$ opportunities$ as$ they$ arise$(Crossan,$1997).$$$Secondly,$arts$and$the$artistic$process$have$been$used$ to$ address$ the$ development$ of$ more$complex$ capabilities$ such$as$ leadership$and$ self>management.$Leaders$can$learn$a$lot$from$artists$and$ the$ artistic$ process,$ like$ for$ example,$ “the$

courage$to$see$the$reality$as$it$actually$is$[..];$the$courage$to$envision$previously$unimagined$and$unimaginable$possibilities;$and$the$courage$to$ inspire$others$to$bring$possibility$back$to$reality”$(Adelr,$2006).$$Finally,$arts$learning$experiences$stimulate$and$develop$group$and$collaborative$learning.$This$is$ the$case$particularly$of$experiences$based$on$ensemble$arts,$which$push$people$ to$ feel$a$sense$ of$ responsibility$ to$ a$ group$ and/or$ to$ a$ project$ (Fiske,$ 1999).$ Indeed,$ theatre$productions,$music$ensembles,$dance$presentations,$collaborative$creative$writing$and$group$paintings$are$all$examples$of$group$activities$involving$group$members’$learning$process.$$Learning$in$the$arts$encourages$the$development$of$cognitive$capacity$and$the$ability$to$learn$in$ other$ domains$ (Deasy,$ 2002;$ Fiske,$ 1999).$ In$ this$ light,$ even$ if$ there$ are$ some$ empirical$difficulties$ to$prove$from$a$quantitative$perspective$the$existence$of$ transferring$knowledge$from$ arts$ to$ other$ fields,$ qualitative$ and$ theoretical$ implications$ show$ that$ skills$ learnt$through$art$education$can$benefit$other$capabilities$and$professional$skills$(Perkins,$1994).$

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Sources:$$1. A$Whole$New$Mind:$Moving$from$the$Information$Age$to$the$Conceptual$Age.$Daniel$H.$Pink$2. The$Value$of$ArtDBased$Initiaves.$Professor$Giovanni$Schiuma$3. Organizational$Improvisation.$Miguel$Pina$E.$Cunha,$Ken$Kamoche$4. Critical$Links:$Learning$in$the$Arts$and$Student$Academic$and$Social$Development.$Richard$Deasy$$5. The$Arts$and$the$Creation$of$Mind.$By$Elliot$Eisner$6. Champions$of$change$:$the$impact$of$the$arts$on$Learning.$By$$Edward$B$Fiske!

Arts!play!a!fundamental!

role!in!the!development!

of!cognitive!capacities,!

including!perception,!

elaboration,!problem!

solving,!and!creative!

thinking.$$"

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“The%most%important%criterion%to%achieve%a%culture%of%

Innovation%%lies%in%an%organization’s%ability%to%

embrace%failure.”%9!Biren!Ghose,!Country!Head,!Technicolor!India!!

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! ! tête9à9tête!

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A!Conversation!with!Biren!

Ghose,!Country!Head,!

Technicolor!India,!and!

President,!ABAI.!

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Biren'spoke'to!Pratima!Choudhury!of!

The!Painted!Sky!on'how'Innovation'and'Arts'go'together.!!

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PC:!Biren,!how!has!2014!been!for!Technicolor!in!India?!What!are!some!of!the!significant!

achievements!and!milestones?!Creatively,!and!businesswise.!

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BG:$2014$has$been$an$exceptional$year$for$Technicolor$India$and$its$constituent$studios$MPC;$DreamWorks$ Animation;$ Rockstar$ Games;$ Nickelodeon;$ EA;$ among$ other$ prominent$ client$hubs.$$$$I$have$been$at$the$helm$of$the$India$entity$of$our$Company$and$played$a$role$as$a$catalyst$in$building$this$studio$ [over$ the$past$5+$years].$ I$ feel$overwhelmed$and$privileged$to$have$had$the$opportunity$to$steer$our$teams$towards$this$incredible$evolution.$The$key$to$our$strategy$was$to$integrate$and$align$the$creative$and$business$processes$of$the$‘local$Company’$to$act$in$‘synchromesh’$with$the$global$Technicolor$and$its$client$organizations$each$with$their$unique$identity$and$culture.$$

$Creatively$the$team$worked$to$bring$home$the$Oscar$for$VFX;$the$Cannes$Gold;$a$few$Emmy’s;$many$British$Arrows,$BAFTAS$among$various$other$awards$and$accolades.$The$creative$edge$of$the$studio$constantly$‘raises$the$bar’$to$wow$audiences$and$the$‘products’$worked$on$by$the$team$in$2014$have$grossed$well$over$a$US$5+$billion$in$revenue.$

$Of$paramount$importance$was$to$transform$the$‘way’$we$worked$to$align$with$the$values,$knowledge$and$behaviors$of$our$100$year$old$Hollywood$parent.$$

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If$we$told$you$that$our$work$seen$on$screen$in$this$past$year$included$Godzilla;$X>Men$–$Days$of$ Future$ Past;$ Spiderman$ II;$ Maleficent;$ Guardians$ of$ the$ Galaxy;$ Night$ at$ the$ Museum;$Exodus;$Penguins$of$Madagascar;$Grand$Theft$Auto$V;$All$Hail$King$Julian;$Puss$N$Boots;$Alvin$and$the$Chipmunks;$among$many$others,$would$that$be$evidence$of$the$“creative$chops”$we$have$developed$as$a$team$@Technicolor$and$MPC?$$PC:'What'are'some'strategies'and'tools'adopted'at'Technicolor'to'promote'Creativity'and'Innovation' among' its' employees?' How' have' these' approaches' and' processes' impacted'productivity'and'creativity'at'Technicolor?''BG:' ' We$ understand$ the$ individual$ in$ every$ one$ of$ our$ 1800$ strong$ team$ within$ the$Technicolor$ India$organization$and$yet$all$ the$micro$ teams$ in$various$divisions$&$businesses$need$to$’fly$elegantly$in$formation’.$We$additionally$manage$work$remotely$through$another$500>1000$ people$ externally$ in$ our$ production$ ecosystem$ in$ the$ conduct$ of$ our$ day>to>day$business.$$

$It$has$been$our$job$to$develop$and$nurture$an$adaptive$&$fluent$leadership$style.$$We$believe$in$an$authentic$and$transparent$client$&$partner$interface.$$Our$style$is$to$engage$in$a$dynamic$and$‘real$time’$manner$with$clients$and$employees,$telling$them$‘like$it$is’”;$ensuring$they$are$served$the$optimum$blend$of$information$and$insights.$$

$While$promoting$ these$ ideas,$we$have$attempted$ to$ reduce$ the$ ‘social$distance’$ separating$individuals$at$the$level$of$the$‘production$floor’”$from$those$in$authority$>$and$embracing$an$informal$style$and$structure.$$It$is$our$endeavor$to$“get$to$know”$people,$such$that$we$‘bridge’$the$regional/cultural$as$well$as$‘generational’$divides.$$

$Our$ studio$ leadership$ is$not$ just$about$ creating$ ‘image$driven$experiences’$ for$audiences$ in$movies$ and$ TV,$ but$ also$ about$ ensuring$ we$ ’engineer$ real$ life$ experiences’$ within$ our$workplace.$$Many$events$across$the$year$keep$this$spirit$alive.$

$Our$strength$lies$in$‘listening’$to$what$the$team$needs$–$engaging$with$them$to$comprehend$and$feed$their$‘basic$emotional$triggers’$–$which$in$a$creative$environment$is$very$different$as$compared$to$a$conventional$manufacturing$in$industrial$sector$company.$$It$is$about$relaxing$and$energizing$them$through$‘fun’$but$also$go$beyond$–$to$make$them$feel$good$about$who$they$are,$what$they$do$and$where$they$do$it.$For$us$‘better,$quicker$&$faster’$is$ not$ a$ buzzword$ –it$ is$ an$ outcome$ of$ our$ approach$ to$ human$ development,$ technology$deployment$and$a$constantly$upgraded$infrastructure.$$$

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PC:' What' does' the' next' decade' hold' for' the'animation'business'in'India?'!

BG:$The$next$decade$looks$extremely$promising$for$the$Indian$Animation/VFX$industry!$$$India$ is$ progressively$ becoming$ an$ ‘active$ingredient’$ in$ the$ ‘global$ production$ recipe’$ for$producing$ animation/VFX$ content.$ There$has$been$an$incredible$increase$in$the$number$and$quality$of$projects$undertaken$by$local$production$studios$for$international$studios.$$

According$ to$ the$ FICCI>KPMG$ 2015$ report,$ the$Indian$ Media$ &$ Entertainment$ industry$ will$ earn$INR$ 2$ trillion$ for$ its$ creativity$ by$ 2019$ (the$ 2015$revenues$ are$ pegged$ at$ INR$ 1.2$ trillion$ this$ year).$The$ VFX,$ Animation$ and$ Gaming$ business$constitutes$ about$ INR$ 80$ billion$ [2015]$ and$ is$poised$to$grow$by$approximately$16%$CAGR$for$the$

next$5$years.$The$animation/VFX$industry$is$about$8%$of$the$global$industry.$About$a$decade$ago,$ India$was$not$even$a$single$digit$of$the$world’s$market$share$ in$this$sector.$This$speaks$volumes$for$the$inventiveness$of$India’s$entrepreneurs$and$the$innate$ability$of$local$talent$to$embrace$the$complexities$of$producing$such$digital$content.$

The$recognition$provided$to$the$Animation,$Gaming$and$Visual$Effects$industry$by$the$Indian$government$in$the$last$Union$Budget$announcement,$bodes$well$for$the$sector.$The$need$of$the$hour$is$to$leverage$this$opportunity$and$work$‘hand>in>hand’$with$the$Government$(both$centre$ and$ state)$ and$ Academia$ (both$ international$ and$ local)$ to$ raise$ ‘standards$ and$ best$practices’$so$that$the$local$industry$can$rise$to$the$next$level$of$quality$and$technology.$'PC:'If'we'can'broaden'the'discussion,'in'your'view,'how'does'creativity'help'an'organization'evolve,'both'for'business'sustenance'and'growth?'And'what'can'an'organization'get'from'encouraging'creativity'to'understand'and'decode'the'current'VUCA'environment?''

'BG:$ $ In$the$adult$world,$we$need$to$constantly$motivate$ourselves$to$keep$rediscovering$our$childlike$curiosity.$$To$always$try$and$understand$the$‘why$–$what$–$when$–$where$–$how’!$$In$the$creative$industries,$this$happens$quite$‘literally’,$as$we$find$ourselves$addressing$creative$expectations$and$imagery$that$exists$only$in$the$Director’s$mind.$$Our$Herculean$task$then,$is$to$help$him/her$to$bring$this$vision$to$‘life’.$$$$The! world! leading! production! houses! have! developed! the! technical! &! creative! chops! to!

decode!this!context!into!content.!!The!essence!of!this!new!story!telling!is!now!influencing!all!

communication.!!

“It!is!about!relaxing!and!

energizing!them!

through!“fun”!but!also!

go!beyond!–!!

to!make!them!feel!

good!about!who!

they!are,!what!

they!do!and!

where!they!do!it.”%

" CONCURRENCE""

PC:'What'should'an'Organization'do'to'promote'a'culture'of'innovation/creativity'among'its'employees?'$

BG:$‘Innovation’$and$‘Creativity’$are$the$trending$buzzwords$of$our$times!$$$Everyone$talks$about$‘thinking$outside$the$box’$but$it’s$easier$said$than$done!$There$is$a$saying$’Innovation$is$creativity$with$a$job$to$do’>$and$business$success$can$only$be$achieved$when$this$‘job’$is$collectively$fulfilled$by$all$employees$in$a$Company$as$opposed$to$one$or$two$people$or$a$few$groups.$$

$The$most$important$criterion$to$achieve$a$culture$of$innovation$ lies$ in$ an$ organization’s$ ability$ to$embrace$failure.$In$failure$lies$the$key$to$success!$It$makes$way$ for$ change,$without$which,$ there$ is$ no$innovation,$creativity$or$scope$for$improvement!$$$At$ Technicolor$ India$ –$ we$ understand$ change,$ as$much$as$we$do$the$inherent$resistance$people$have$to$ change.$ $ We$ understand$ that$ people$ get$emotional$even$ in$ the$anticipation$of$change!$ $We$address$ this$ through$ constant$ communication$ and$presenting$our$worldview$dynamically.$$$$

“Michael!Michalko!in!

his!seminal!work!

‘Cracking!Creativity’!

contends!that!people!

think!creatively!if!

they!choose!to!do!

so!”!!

"

17"

$This$ constant$ engagement$ and$ building$ a$ positive$ mindset,$ is$ therefore$ the$ key$ to$ what$enables$us$to$keep$creativity$and$innovation$at$peak$levels.$We$work$with$our$global$clients$to$ensure$that$we$communicate$to$our$team$our$future$slate$of$shows$as$far$as$possible.$$Apart$from$this$we$have$exciting$“group$engagements”$through$the$year$–$events$that$“break$the$ice”$and$help$the$team$to$connect$beyond$working$on$a$production.$$Regular$town$halls,$client$interface$and$annual$events$aid$the$process.$$We$pride$ourselves$on$marking$their$achievements$through$multiple$rewards.$Nothing$‘feeds$the$ soul’$ better$ than$artistic$ recognition$and$ this$ triggers$ greater$ levels$of$ involvement$and$energy.$$$PC:!We!are!keen!to!explore!how!learning!from!the!world!of!the!arts!and!the!process!of!the!

artist!can!benefit!businesses!across!the!world.!In!your!opinion,!what!are!some!key!areas!that!

you! see! businesses! learn! from! the! world! of! arts! and! the! artists?! And!what! could! be! the!

outcome!of!such!collaborations?!

'BG:' ' ‘Me$&$ Isaac$Newton’$was$a$1999$documentary$by$Michael$Apted$ from$ the$USC$which$traced$the$creative$process$practiced$by$several$key$scientists$ :$Gertrude$Elion$–$Nobel$Prize$winner$ for$ an$ anti>leukemia$ drug$ [demonstrating$ innovative$ and$ intuitive$ styles$ of$ creative$intelligence];$Patricia$Wright$–$discovering$a$new$species$of$lemur$after$buying$a$monkey$from$a$NY$pet$ shop$ [innovation$ and$ intuition$ at$work];$ Ashok$Gadgil$ –$ environmental$ scientist$ –$discovering$ practical$ water$ purification$[demonstrating$ innovation$ &$ an$ enquiring$mindset];$ etc.$ These$ movies$ demonstrate$the$ ‘symbiotic$ nature’$ of$ how$ the$ arts$ and$the$ sciences$ were$ more$ closely$ connected$than$people$gave$it$credit$for.$After$a$point$scientific$ explorations$ reach$ a$ ‘chasm’$ and$only$ faith$ and$ some$ significant$ creative$leaps$can$achieve$dramatic$outcomes.$$$Michael$ Michalko$ in$ his$ seminal$ work$‘Cracking$ Creativity’$ contends$ that$ people$think$creatively$if$they$choose$to$do$so!$The$list$of$such$envisioned$outcomes$is$now$the$stuff$of$several$legends!$$

'PC:!What!are!your!expectations!from!organizations!like!The!Painted!Sky!that!promote!Art9

Based!Training!Initiatives?!How!can!they!improve!their!offerings!and!training!outcomes?!!

$BG:$In$the$past$50$years$the$world$has$understood$that$creative$intelligence$(like$intellectual$ability)$is$not$a$matter$of$speculation$and$interpretation.$It$can$be$measured$and$developed.$Instruments$ that$ profile$ creative$ potential$ are$ being$ honed$ for$ over$ a$ decade$ and$ help$measure$ and$ foster$ curiosity,$ insightfulness,$ resourcefulness,$ visionary$ abilities,$ etc.$$

Stevie!Wonder’s!fight!against!

blindness!and!Eric!Clapton’s!

fight!against!himself!in!his!

drug!addiction!are!the!

music!world!heroes!

that!continue!to!shine!

against!different!

odds.!!

%

" CONCURRENCE""

Particularly$ in$ the$ creative$world,$ one$ needs$ consistent$ fuel$ to$ keep$ innovation,$ inspiration$and$imagination$ignited.$$$$The!Painted!Sky'would'do'well'to'help'folks'“find,'learn'and'apply”'their'creative'ability;'the'exploration' and' the' development' of' the' mythical' ‘right' brain’' to' help' ‘elevate’' their'fortunes'in'their'professional'and'personal'lives.''$“If$ you$ always$ think$ the$ way$ you$ always$ thought,$ you’ll$ always$ get$ what$ you’ve$ always$gotten.”$We$need$ to$work$with$ organizations$ like$The$ Painted$ Sky$ to$ break$ the$mould$ and$avoid$this$pitfall!$The$average$person$has$been$taught$to$think$reproductively,$that$is,$on$the$basis$of$ similar$problems$encountered$ in$ the$past.$ $We$need$ to$paint$new$ skies$ from$ ‘blue$skies’$ in$ colors$ and$ hire$ ‘never$ seen’$ before.$ $ $ To$ help$ individuals$ and$ teams$ dip$ into$ their$inner$creativity$palate$to$create$harmonies$and$melodic$outcomes.$$PC:! Finally,! Biren! the!man.!Who!or!what! are! some!of! your! greatest! inspirations! from! the!

creative!world?!

'BG:'My$greatest$inspiration$comes$from$those$who$have$overcome$great$odds$to$succeed$at$the$ highest$ level.$ $ As$ stories$ of$ achievements$ unfold,$ I$ am$ energized$ by$ these$ influences.$$From$India$I$can$call$out$Prakash$Padukone$(Badminton)$Geet$Sethi$(Billiards)$and$Mary$Kom$(Boxing)$as$ three$ ‘home$grown’$examples.$ $ It’s$not$ just$what$ they$have$done$but$what$they$have$overcome$ to$ achieve$ this$ that$ is$ exemplary.$ $ Sport$ is$ a$ great$metaphor$ for$ significant$achievements$despite$hardships$and$odds.$$Stevie$Wonder’s$ fight$ against$ blindness$ and$ Eric$ Clapton’s$ fight$ against$ himself$ in$ his$ drug$addiction$are$the$music$world$heroes$that$continue$to$shine$against$different$odds.$Character$is$the$‘muscle’$that$develops$when$facing$obstacles$and$still$making$it$to$the$top$of$the$ladder!$'PC:!Personally,!what!have!been!your!key!learnings,!being!both!associated!with!the!world!of!

arts!and!leading!a!highly!creative!organization?!Can!the!twain!meet?!

!

BG:'We$must$ begin$ by$ understanding$ that$ it’s$ a$myth$ to$ believe$ that$ creativity$ cannot$ be$learned.$I$debunk$the$theory$that$you$are$either$born$creative$or$not!$$$Creativity$is$not$a$genetically$determined$attribute!$$$Every$ step$ of$ creativity$ is$ a$ hunch>$ requiring$ great$ execution!$ Edison$ felt$ his$ lack$ of$ formal$education$was,$in$fact,$“a$blessing”.$Hence$one$should$not$overvalue$the$Ivy$League$degrees!$(Even$they$put$their$courses$online$for$free!)$

$$$$$$$$

19"

$'What'seems'to'have'evolved'as'my'recipe'for'leading'innovative'teams'and'organizations'can'be'summarized'as'follows:''1. Start'by'thinking'big.'Without'dreams'there'is'no'inspirational'outcome'2. Develop'your'own'method'for'execution.'(Dream'(>'Plans'(>'Actions'(>'Results)'3. Learn'to'optimize'at'every'step.'Test'ideas'and'then'scale'them''4. ‘Trim'the'sails’('Business'is'like'the'weather('changeable'without'warning!'Learn'to'‘roll'

with'the'punches’'and'then'use'creative'ways'to'stretch/conserve'resources'as'required'(Important:'Don’t'use'all'your'money!)'$$

There' is'no'cookie'cutter'method'that'works'and'these'are' just'my'own'self('motivating'mantras!'$$$$$$$$$It!is!not!easy!to!introduce!Biren!in!the!two!dimensions!of!a!page.!The!man!is!beyond!such!limiting!

definitions.!Biren!is!Country!Head!at!Technicolor!India.!He!is!a!marketing!and!business!strategist!–!

prolific!speaker!at!forums!–!an!untiring!champion!of!artistic!talent!–!a!celebrated!leader!for!award!

winning!VFX!and!animation!teams!–!jazz!musician!–!media!&!entertainment!industry!advocate!and!

evangelist!9!believes!that!the!arts!will!influence!the!sciences!over!the!next!decade.$

'''''''''

" CONCURRENCE""

Exploration!

'

What'Entrepreneurs'can'Learn'from'Artists'(Adapted!from!Fortune.com,!dated!December!21,!2012)!

$Like' artists,' startup' founders' must' cultivate' creative' habits' to' see' the' world' afresh' and'create'something'new.'$Andy$ Warhol$ knew$ it$ all$ along:$ “Good$ business$ is$ the$ best$ art.”$ And$ lately,$ a$ number$ of$business$ thinkers$and$ leaders$have$begun$ to$embrace$ the$arts,$not$as$an$escapist$notion,$a$parallel$world$after$office$hours,$or$a$creative$asset,$but$as$an$integral$part$of$business$—$from$the$management$team$to$operations$to$customer$service.$Indeed,$the$“art”$of$business$has$become$more$important$as$the$“science”$grows$ubiquitous.$As$Big$Data$and$sophisticated$analytical$tools$allow$us$to$make$our$processes$more$efficient,$intuition$and$creativity$are$fast$becoming$the$only$differentiating$factors$among$competitors.$Like$ any$ “soft$ asset,”$ these$ qualities$ cannot$ be$ exploited,$ only$ explored.$ And$ like$ artists,$innovators$must$cultivate$creative$habits$to$see$the$world$afresh$and$create$something$new.$$How! do! artists! think! and! behave?$ Here$ are$ 12$ traits$ that$ any$ individual$ who$aspires$to$make$his$or$her$mark$on$the$world$should$emulate:$$1.' Artists' are' “neophiles.”$They$ are$ in$ love$ with$ novelty$ and$ have$ an$ insatiable$appetite$ for$ finding$ and$ creating$ new$ connections,$ for$ inventing$ and$ reinventing,$ even$themselves.$ Art$ means$ changing$ the$ meaning$ of$ things$ or$ creating$ new$ meanings.$ That’s$exactly$what$innovation$is$all$about.$$2.' Artists' are' humanists.$They$ are$ experts$ of$ the$ “human$ condition”$ and$ observe$human$desires,$needs,$emotions,$and$behavior$with$a$sharp,$discerning$eye$and$a$high$degree$of$ empathy.$ They$ can$ feel$ with$ and$ for$ others,$ which$ should$ be$ every$ innovator’s$ distinct$strength$as$well.$$3.' Artists' are' craftspeople.$They$ “think$ by$making”$ and$ unite$ the$ “hand$ and$ the$head,”$as$sociologist$Richard$Sennett$describes$it.$It$has$both$a$physical$dimension$(exhibiting$mastery$in$craftsmanship)$and$a$meta>physical$dimension$(connecting$a$new$product,$service,$or$ business$ model$ with$ the$ broader$ zeitgeist$ and$ cultural$ climate).$ Nike’s$$Fuelband,$ for$example,$ integrates$ software$ and$ hardware,$ and$ is$ an$ expression$ of$ our$ society’s$ growing$demand$for$self>managed,$preventive$healthcare.$'

21"

4.'Artists'are'like'children.'“Every$child$is$an$artist.$The$problem$is$how$to$remain$an$artist$once$we$grow$up,”$Pablo$Picasso$famously$said.$Artists$retain$a$child’s$unique$sense$of$possibility$and$wonder.$Innovators$should,$too.$It$may$sound$paradoxical,$but$innovations$are$always$nostalgic.The$most$meaningful$of$them,$although$seemingly$all$about$novelty$and$the$future,$ reconnect$us$with$ a$basic$human$quest$or$ even$our$ childhood$dreams$ (think$of$ the$iPhone$and$our$desire$to$touch,$or$sharing$sites$such$as$Facebook$$or$Pinterest,$which$cater$to$our$innate$urge$to$share).$$5.'Artists'rely'on'their'intuition.'It$may$seem$counter>intuitive,$but$intuition$is$ever$more$important$in$the$age$of$Big$Data,$because$it$is$the$only$feature$that$is$faster$and$deeper$than$the$massive$flow$of$real>time$information.$Nothing$comes$close$to$intuition$as$innovators$seek$to$anticipate$trends$and$make$decisions$swiftly.$$6.' Artists' are' comfortable' with' ambiguity.'By$ design,$ they$ often$ deal$ with$things$ that$are$not$measurable$and$can’t$be$easily$quantified.$ Innovators,$ too,$ should$value$what$may$not$be$easily$captured$in$quantitative$terms.$In$stark$contrast$to$more$mechanistic$models$of$management,$they$must$be$able$to$tolerate$uncertainty$and$open>ended$questions.$$7.'Artists'are'holistic,' interdisciplinary'thinkers.$Artists$can$connect$dots$and$take$ things$ out$ of$ their$ original$ context.$ Likewise,$ innovators$ contextualize$ and$ re>contextualize,$ mash$ up$ and$ remix,$ and$ embrace$ new$ insights$ and$ ideas$ that$ lead$ to$unexpected,$unlikely,$and$often$serendipitous$conclusions$(among$the$most$famous$examples$of$such$“accidental$innovations”$are$the$pacemaker$or$3M’s$post>it$notes).$$8.'Artists'thrive'under'constraints.'They$often$have$to$work$within$very$structured$formats$ and$meet$ scarce$ resources$ with$ ingenuity.$ In$ fact,$ these$ constraints$ might$ even$stimulate$ their$ creativity.$ Inspired$ by$ the$ phenomenon$ of$Jugaad$in$ India,$ innovation$ gurus$like$Navi$Radjou$have$popularized$and$globalized$the$concept$of$“frugal$innovation”$(e.g.$the$mobile$ SMS$ disaster$ response$ platform$ Ushahidi$ or$ the$ portable$ “roll>on”$ hospital$ hand>sanitizers$SwipeSense).$Frugal$innovation$has$become$the$new$hallmark$for$the$art$of$creating$maximum$value$with$minimal$resources.$$9.' Artists' are' great' storytellers.'They$tell$a$story$with$their$art$but$also$often$tell$the$story$of$their$art.$The$same$holds$true$for$meaningful$innovations.$Great$innovators$design$experiences$that$spark$conversation.$Just$ look$at$ ideas$funded$on$Kickstarter:$The$product$ is$also$the$story$of$the$product.$$10.'Artists'are'conduits'and'not'“masters'of'the'universe.”'Most$artists$–$painters,$ sculptors,$ writers,$ filmmakers,$ or$ musicians$ –$ will$ admit$ that$ they$ derive$ their$inspiration$from$a$spiritual$sphere$that$goes$beyond$their$individual$creativity$and$skills.$This$applies$ to$ innovators,$ too.$Whether$ they’re$ spiritual$or$not,$humility$ suits$ them$well$ as$ the$social$web$and$ its$wave$of$ crowd>based$collaborations$have$ rendered$ the$myth$of$ the$ lone$genius$obsolete.$$

" CONCURRENCE""

11.' Artists' are' passionate' about' their' work.'In$ fact,$ their$work$and$ life$ are$impossible$to$separate.$That$doesn’t$mean$that$innovators$need$to$be$workaholics,$but$they$should$base$their$ideas$on$deep$beliefs.$Innovation$is$a$leap$of$faith,$and$innovators$need$to$be$believers.$Like$artists,$they$will$often$face$rejection,$but$if$an$idea$is$not$worth$fighting$for,$it$might$not$have$been$the$right$one$in$the$first$place.$$12.'Artists' are' contrarians.'Artists$can$see$the$“cracks$through$which$the$light$gets$in,”$ as$ the$ old$ adage$ goes.$ Likewise,$ great$ innovators$ come$ up$with$ solutions$ to$ problems$because$they$see$what$ is$missing.$They$are$eccentric,$which$means$they$literally$view$things$from$the$fringes.$Both$artists$and$innovators$see$the$world$as$it$could$be.$They$look$upon$our$world,$as$Proust$would$say,$with$“fresh$eyes.”$You$might$also$call$that$vision.$They$are$always$“initially$wrong”$to$be$“ultimately$right”$as$Kathryn$Schultz$wrote$in$her$book,$Being$Wrong.$$Like$art,$true$innovation$has$the$potential$to$make$our$lives$better.$It$connects$and$reconnects$us$with$deeply$ held$ truths$ and$ fundamental$ human$desires;$meets$ complexity$with$ simple,$elegant$solutions;$and$rewards$risk>taking$and$vulnerability.$$However,$ businesses$ must$ refrain$ from$ designing$ innovation$ as$ a$ mere$ process.$ That$ is$perhaps$the$golden$rule$that$artists$and$innovators$have$in$common:$new$ideas$of$worth$will$only$come$to$those$who$allow$ample$space$and$time$for$ those$new$ ideas$ to$develop$ in$ the$first$place.$$Tim!Leberecht!is!the!chief!marketing!officer!of!global!design!and!innovation!firm!frog.!He!is!also!the!publisher!

of!frog’s!award9winning!magazine!design!mind,!the!producer!of!the!Reinvent!Business!hackathon,!and!serves!

on!the!World!Economic!Forum’s!Global!Agenda!Council!on!Values.!

$!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

Source:$$http://fortune.com/2012/12/21/whatDentrepreneursDcanDlearnDfromDartists/$'''

!

23"

!

“All%our%knowledge%has%its%origins%in%our%perceptions.”%

@%Leonardo%da%Vinci%

" CONCURRENCE""

Point!of!View!

Try$Art!$!

Leonardo!Previ,!!

President,'Triviquadrivio'Architect.'Author.'Biker.'Historian.'Thinker.'Trainer.'$$Leonardo!Previ! contributes!with!his! views!on!how! the!worlds! of!Arts! and!Business! can! influence!and! enrich!

each!other.!

!

The$concept$of$organization$is$at$the$very$root$of$modern$economy$and$for$the$early$masters$of$economics,$organization$is$synonymous$with$order.$It$was$1776$when$Adam$Smith$literally$invented$a$new$discipline,$the$science$of$organization.$‘The$Wealth$of$Nations’$embodied$the$rules$behind$an$organization.$The$literature$behind$this$impossible$to$be$misunderstood$title$soon$became$the$corner$stone$of$modern$economy$and$the$message$started$to$spread:$if$you$want$to$be$successful$in$your$business,$you$better$be$well$organized.$$$At$ the$very$ core$of$modern$ idea$of$organization$ there$ is$ a$ single$principle,$ very$ simple$and$very$powerful:$ the$division$of$ labour.$ In$other$words,$since$almost$two$and$a$half$centuries,$being$ in$ a$ business$ implied$ being$ organized;$ being$ organized$ implied$ ability$ to$ split$ all$business$activities$ in$ the$ smallest$possible$denominator$ in$order$ to$ reduce$ loss$of$ time$and$increase$revenue.$This$is$order.$$

Looking for Innovation?

25"

$

At!the!core!of!art,! lies!the!idea!of!disorder.$The$artist$breaks$the$rules$and$transforms$everyday$certainties$into$question$marks;$and$this$is$why$we$need$the$artist.$This$ is$ the$ way$ art$ has$ worked$ since$ the$ very$ beginning$ of$ our$ history.$ Or,$ as$ Hans$ Jonas$suggests,$we$can$have$a$human$history$thanks$to$the$artistic$way$of$disrupting$existing$order.$$

$In$his$beautiful$essay,$‘The$Birth$of$Art’,$Jonas$helps$us$to$understand$how$relevant$has$been$the$ contribution$ of$ prehistoric$ painters$ to$ the$ building$ of$ a$ meaningful$ and$ collaborative$human$ activity.$ According$ to$ Jonas,$ the$ initial$ traces$ of$ human$ distinctiveness$ can$ be$witnessed$ in$wall$ paintings$ that$ are$ dated$ back$ to$ twenty$ thousand$ years.$ For$ a$ very$ long$period,$human$being’s$vocation$has$been$centred$on$hunting$and$hoarding.$But$for$a$very$long$period$we’ve$been$running$business$as$beasts:$behavior$based$on$instinct.$$$Hunting$will$ no$more$ be$ an$ immediate$ answer$ to$ the$ stirring$ of$ hunger;$ hunting$will$ be$ a$medium,$and$success$is$subject$to$skill.$Through$art$we$left$our$bestiality$behind$and$became$humans.$The$order$of$nature$has$been$replaced$by$the$order$of$culture.$$Whatever$out$business$is,$we$should$keep$in$mind$that$the$cause>effect$mechanism$is$rather$prehistoric:$as$human$beings$we$belong$to$a$much$higher$ level$of$complexity.$Where$things$are$ not$ only$ “presented”$ but$ they$ are$ always$ “re>presented”,$ as$ the$ original$ cave$ painter$taught$to$his$astonished,$half>beast$peers.$

" CONCURRENCE""

Disorder$ entered$ into$ our$ world$ almost$ one$ thousand$ generation$ ago,$ and$ it$ is$ only$ ten$generations$ ago$ that$ Adam$ Smith$ and$ his$ economics>devoted$ followers$ started$ do$worship$order.$$Nevertheless,$ existing$ businesses,$ especially$ in$ multinational$ corporations$ supervised$ by$managers,$ do$ follow$ the$ “order$ mantra”,$ with$ fairly$ good$ results.$ If$ “fairly$ good”$ is$ what$you’re$ looking$ for,$order$ is$ the$perfect$ tool.$But$ if$ you’re$ looking$ for$ something$else,$ and$ if$your$ company$ is$ asking$ for$ something$more,$order>driven$organizations$must$accept$all$ the$weird,$ unforeseen,$ unacceptable$ that$ comes$ from$ that$ ancient$ cave$ full$ of$ prehistoric$doodles.$$

Apparently!nothing!is!as!far!from!business!as!art.$But$this$is$certainly$true$only$if$we$remain$stuck$on$business$as$usual.$If$business$is$limited$to$happy$few,$who$can$think,$ create$ and$ spread$ instructions$ while$ the$ rest$ of$ the$ company$ executes,$ then$ art$ is$pointless.$But$if$it’s$innovation$that$you$are$looking$for,$then$you$desperately$need$art.$$Innovation! is! a! very! complex!phenomenon!and! there’s! no! recipe! that!guarantees! success.!

Over! the!years,! innovation!among!entrepreneurs,!management!or! start9up!establishments!

fail!to!take!into!account!assimilation!of!various!points!of!view.!

!

Hardly$ they’d$ realize$ that$ it$ is$only$ through$assimilation,$new$and$better$ways$of$organizing$will$appear.$And$this$is$exactly$the$artist’s$business:$reframe$all$the$aspects$of$reality,$in$order$to$highlights$unraveled$faces$of$it.$$

27"

Scientific$management$strives$to$reduce$complexity$to$a$single$point$of$view:$only$within$such$unrealistic$reduction,$organizations$can$achieve$the$expected$order$and$can$avoid$unexpected$events.$ On$ the$ contrary$ our$ markets$ are$ overwhelmed$ by$ increasing$ levels$ of$ higher$complexities$and$when$scientific$management$tries$to$face$the$abundance$of$issues$which$is$the$reality,$the$process$portrays$huge$limitations.$That’s$the$reason$why$we$should$accept$the$idea$of$discovering$and$trying$as$many$points$of$view$as$we$can$imagine.$$The'majority'of'managers'are'still'afraid'of'this'kind'of'multiplication'because'they'perceive'it'as'a'loss'of'control.'But'this'“endless'reframing”'is'rapidly'becoming'the'real'competitive'advantage' for' innovative' companies.' And' this' is' where' the' artistic' experience' can' be' of'great' help,' with' its' long(lasting' confidence' with' the' value' of' diversity,' paradoxes' and'improvisations.''$Managers$love$numbers,$90$degrees$corners$and$straight$lines.$They$organize$priorities$within$recognizable$charts$and$lose$their$minds$over$squared$competencies.$We$have$bad$news$for$them:$whilst$ art$ can$ provide$ the$ best$ business$ skill,$ it’s$ impossible$ to$ learn$ this$ skill$within$business$schools.$But$there’s$also$good$news:$everyone,$without$exception,$guards$this$skill$in$his$ own$ soul.$ Creativity$ or$ as$ we$ call$ it,$ the$ art$ of$ reframing$ is$ embodied$ in$ our$ DNA;$ it’s$traceable$overtime$we$use$our$senses.$We$simply$have$to$make$room$for$it$within$our$picture$perfect$Gantt$charts.$$$$$$Leonardo!Previ!is!quite!passionate!about!what!he!does.!And!if!one!is!Leonardo,!who!does!so!many!things,!it!is!

difficult!to!find!something!he!is!not!passionate!about.!A!doctorate!in!architecture,!Leonardo!has!been!teaching!

since!1989!(he!continues!to!teach!Human!Resources!Management!at!the!Catholic!University!in!Milan).!Founded!

in!1996,!his!company!Trivioquadrivio!is!among!the!foremost!training!firms!in!Europe,!focusing!on!experiential!

learning! initiatives!and!events.!Leonardo! is!a!Lego!Serious!Play!Certificate!Facilitator,!one!of! the!founders!of!

the!Jazz!for!Business!learning!approach.!A!keen!biker,!he!travels!across!Europe!with!his!motorbike!(a!venerable!

Moto!Guzzi!850!T3)!to!train!managers!in!aesthetic!intelligence.!He!has!written!five!books!and!is!working!on!the!

sixth,!successfully!exploring!the!confluence!of!Art!and!Business.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

" CONCURRENCE""

Happenings!

To!See,!Observe,!Connect,!Synthesise,!Interpret.!Based'on'articles'published'in'Boston.com'(20th'July'2008)'and'WGBHN.com'(22nd'August,'2012)…'!

At'the'Isabella'Stewart'Gardner'Museum'in'Boston,'a'group'of'20('and'30(somethings'crowd'around'an'oil'painting'of'a'Spanish'dancer...'$It$could$be$any$art$appreciation$class$from$one$of$Boston's$many$colleges$and$universities.$But$these$are$Harvard!medical! students.$And$as$ they$ stare$at$ John$Singer$ Sargent's$ 'el$ Jaleo',$ a$wall>length$tableau$of$Spanish>style$dancers$and$musicians,$they$take$turns$imagining$what's$going$on$in$the$scene$before$them.$One$of$the$figures$in$the$painting$has$his$head$tilted$up$to$the$ceiling$with$his$throat$exposed.$$One$ student$ says,$ "I$ think$ it$ looks$ like$ he's$ snoring,"$ and$ her$ classmates$ giggle.$ But$ she$continues:$"I$think$he$has$his$head$back$up$against$the$wall,$I$think$he's$had$a$really$long$day$and$he's$sleeping."$$These$ students$ are$ spending$ one$ afternoon$ a$ week$ at$ art$ museums,$ taking$ a$ course$called,$"Training' the' Eye"$—$ a$ course$ that$ co>creator$ Alexa$ Miller$ hopes$ will$ help$ them$become$better$doctors.$$$$

Students'and'instructors'in'Harvard's'"Training'the'Eye"'course'spend'a'moment'just'looking'at'a'work'of'art'before'beginning'the'discussion.'

Training the Eye!"

29"

In$ between$ student$ observations,$ Miller$ encourages$ them$ to$ probe$ deeper.$ When$ one$student$ suggests$ the$ "sleeping"$ man$ could$ be$ singing$ instead,$ Miller$ says,$ "OK,$ great,$ so$connecting$these$two$themes$that$seem$to$be$opposing$…$what$do$you$see$that$makes$you$say$you$can$hear$the$music?"$$At$Harvard$Medical$School$runs$one$of$the$most$fascinating$ART>Based$Development$practices$in$the$world,$with$a$fantastic$objective:$the' idea' is' that'by'making'all'kinds'of'observations'and' being' asked' to' think' about' why' they're' seeing' what' they're' seeing,' these' Harvard'students' will' become'more' flexible' thinkers' who' can' hold' different' possibilities' in' their'heads'before'making'a'diagnosis.''Fluidity$ of$ thought$ and$ getting$ comfortable$ with$ ambiguity$ are$ crucial$ in$ health$ care,$ says$Sharon$Levine,$a$professor$of$medicine$at$Boston$University.$"If$you$don't$deal$with$ambiguity,$you$will$ make$mistakes,"$ Levine$ says.$ "If$ you$ become$ fixated$ on$ one$ thing$ and$ don't$ think$about$other$possibilities$based$on$your$physical$exam,$then$you$do$yourself$and$your$patients$a$disservice."$$Think' of' this' in' terms' of' our' struggles' with' the' VUCA' world' (' dealing' with' ambiguous,'unclear' and' sometimes' conflicting' inputs.' Can' Art' help?' A' review' in' 2008' found' that'students' who' take' "Training' the' Eye"' are' able' to' make' nearly' 40%' more' clinical'observations'than'those'who'haven't'taken'the'course.'That'can'mean'fewer'tests,'cheaper'medical'care.'And'more'humanness'and'sensitive.''!

And$ Joel$ Katz,$ a$ co>creator$of$ the$Harvard$ course,$ observes,$"Our! anecdotal! observation! is!that!students!who!do!this!course!have!come!back!to!us!years!later!and!said,!'Oh,!I!feel!much!

more!prepared!and!much!more!confident!in!my!ability!to!do!physical!exam,'".!$Katz$and$his$colleagues$published$a$study$in$the$Journal$of$General$Internal$Medicine$showing$that$ after$ completing$ the$ class,$ students'$ ability$ to$ make$ accurate$ observations$ increased$38%.$When' shown' artwork' and' photos' of' patients,' students' were' more' likely' to' notice'features' such' as' a' patient's' eyes' being' asymmetrical' or' a' tiny,' healed' sore' on' an' index'finger.' Observations' by' a' control' group' of' students' who' did' not' take' the' class' did' not'change.''The' most' difficult' part' of' the' class' for' the' high(achieving' Harvard' students,' Miller' said,'seems'to'be'letting'go'of'their'urge!to!find!the!one!right!answer.!"When$we$get$fixated$on$getting$the$right$answer,$we$miss$the$diagnosis$because$it$blocks$the$ability$to$think$flexibly,"$Miller$said.$"We$want$them$to$puzzle$through$things."!$

Away!at!Yale,!a!similar!story!is!unfolding.!

!

All$first>year$students$at$the$Yale$School'of'Medicine$are$required$to$take$an$innovative$class,$which$was$developed$by$Yale$medical$school$faculty$member$Dr.$Irwin$Braverman$and$Linda$Friedlaender.$Ms.Friedlaender$ is$also$the$curator$of$education$at$ the$Yale'Center' for'British'Art,$which$houses$the$world's$largest$collection$of$British$art$outside$the$United$Kingdom.$$$

" CONCURRENCE""

The! visual! tutorial,! now!marking! its! 16th!anniversary,! draws! together! disciplines! that! are!

usually! worlds! apart! —! art! and! medicine!—! in! order! to! hone! the! observational! skills! of!

future!physicians.$Braverman!and!other!experts!believe!that,!in!an!age!when!physicians!rely!

heavily! on! high9tech! imaging! and! tests,! the! art! of! detailed,! careful! observation! is! getting!

short! shrift.! But! detecting! small! details! can! make! all! the! difference! in! coming! up! with!

accurate!diagnoses,!believes!the!Yale!faculty!member.!

!

Each$ student$ gets$12>15$ minutes$ to$study$ a$ painting,$and$ describe$ what$they$see.$In$detail.$A$student$ from$Nigeria,$ Oluwatosin$Onibokun,$ wasn't$sure$at$the$outset$of$the$ class$ that$ her$observational$ skills$could$ improve$ by$looking$ at$ the$paintings.$$$By$the$end,$after$she$had$ painstakingly$

considered$details$ in$the$photographs$of$patients$that$Braverman$passed$around$a$table$for$examination,$she$had$no$doubt$of$the$museum$tutorial's$¬benefit.$"I$paid$more$attention$to$colors,$ shapes$ and$ sizes$ of$ skin$ blotches,$ lesions$ and$ other$ conditions,"$ she$ said.$ Her$observational$skills$had$already$improved.$"It$was$great,"$she$said$of$the$class.$$Sounok$Sen,$a$student$originally$from$Maryland,$deftly$described$the$details$he$picked$out$in$the$painting.$"That$was$fantastic,"$Friedlaender$told$him.$$

Art!in!Management!Education!

$The$relevance$of$art>based$initiatives$for$supporting$training$processes$is$highlighted$by$their$ever>increasing$ adoption$ in$ the$ curricula$ of$ many$ business$ schools,$ such$ as$ the$ INSEAD$Business$ School,$Warwick$ Business$ School,$ University$ of$ Glasgow$ Business$ School,$ the$ IMD$Business$School$Lausanne,$ the$Cranfield$School$of$Management$and$the$F.W.$Olin$Graduate$School$of$Business$at$Babson$College,$to$name$a$few.$These$Business$Schools$have$integrated$the$use$of$art$initiatives$in$their$MBA’s,$Masters’$and$Executive$courses’$curriculum.$$$For$ example,$ INSEAD$ is$ continuing$ to$ build$ partnerships$ outside$ the$ business$ school$world$through$ an$ agreement$ with$ Johns$ Hopkins$ University’s$ School$ of$ Advanced$ International$Studies,$ in$ April$ 2011.$ The$ two$ will$ launch$ a$ dual>degree$Masters$ programme$ from$ which$participants$ will$ graduate$ with$ both$ an$ INSEAD$MBA$ and$ a$Master$ of$ Arts$ from$ SAIS.$ The$INSEAD>SAIS$ programme$ is$ designed$ for$ those$who$want$ to$ follow$ a$ career$ that$ combines$international$ relations$and$business.$Students$admitted$ to$both$programmes$will$be$able$ to$

Linda'Friedlaender'(kneeling)'leads'medical'students'in'a'discussion'about'what'they'can'deduce'from'one'of'the'paintings'at'the'Yale'Center'for'British'Art,'where'she'is'curator'of'education.'

31"

complete$ the$ two$ degrees$ in$ two$ and$ a$ half$ years,$ instead$ of$ the$ three$ years$ required$ to$complete$the$degrees$separately.$$$INSEAD!Dean!Dipak! Jain! said! the! dual! degree!would! “be! especially!

valuable! for! those! who! seek! management! responsibilities! in!

international! corporations,! financial! institutions,! economic! and!

development!institutions!and!government!agencies”.!

!

At$ Babson' College,$ students$ during$ their$ first$ year$ take$ arts$ lessons$ under$ the$ guide$ of$ a$creative$ consultant,$ who$ is$ an$ artist.$ Students$ are$ taught$ to$ uses$ their$ senses$ in$ order$ to$better$ grasp$ things$happening$around$ them$as$well$ as$ to$ react$ to$ them.$While$ at$Cranfield'School'of'Management,$students$learn$how$to$become$more$receptive$by$relaxation$in$order$to$be$able$to$let$their$imagination$run$free.$By$exposing$students$to$the$arts$and$art$processes,$through$ a$ hands>on$ approach,$ they$ learn$ to$ be$ more$ in$ touch$ with$ their$ senses,$ feelings,$emotions$and$thoughts.$$$Students'take'classes'of'puppetry,'dance'and'movement,'music,' fiction,'writing,'theatrical'improvisation,' painting' and' poetry' in' order' to' learn' how' to' handle' ambiguity,' be' more'adept' in' discovering'new' things' and' seeing' things' from'different'perspectives,' take' risks,'communicate'more'efficiently'and'improve'problem(solving'capabilities.'''Arts! are! therefore! recognised! as! powerful! means! to! develop! students’!

imagination!and!creativity.!

$Why!Art9Based!Trainings!Work!

This' is' why' Art(Based' trainings' are' so' effective.' ABTIs' open' the' eyes' of' participants' to'possibilities,' to' what' is' often' missed' or' overlooked.' The' details' make' the' difference.'Whether$ in$ Design$ Thinking$ or$ Creative$ Problem$ Solving,$ Facilitating$ Change$ or$ Managing$Conflicts,$ABTIs$and$similar$approaches$bring$to$the$fore$possibilities$and$alternatives,$as$well$as$ allow$ people$ to$ understand$ and$ decode$ the$ realities$ better.$ The$ experience$ is$ novel,$enriching$and$empowering,$and$as$Katz$says,$the$learnings$stick!'$$$$$$$Sources:$

1. www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2008/07/20/monet_gauguin_using_art_to_make_better_doctors/?page=full$

2. http://wgbhnews.org/post/learningDmedicineDlookingDart$3. http://news.yale.edu/2009/04/10/classDhelpingDfutureDdoctorsDlearnDartDobservation$4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL1b1tMNI4E$

$$

" CONCURRENCE""

! Point!of!View!

$

A!Culture!of!

!Creativity$Innovation$and$productivity$$$$$$$$$$$$$$(This$article$was$originally$published$in$HC$Capital$Magazine$Issue$No$11.01$2013)$

Innovation!and!productivity!

"Current$thinking$from$governments$and$professional$industry$bodies$is$promoting$innovation$as$the$key$driver$of$productivity,$wealth$creation$and$the$means$to$a$prosperous$Australia$in$the$ 21st$ Century.$ $ The$ idea$ that$ innovation$ is$ critical$ to$ creating$ a$ more$ productive$ and$competitive$ Australia$ is$ highlighted$ by$ the$ Australian$ Government’s$ ten$ year$ innovation$agenda$Powering$Ideas:$An$Innovation$Agenda$for$the$21st$Century$(2009)$,$which$is$a$systems$approach$ to$ innovation$ policy,$ entitled$ the$ ‘national$ innovation$ system’.$ $ $ There$ are$many$reasons$given$why$Australia$needs$to$boost$innovation$and$productivity.$$One$of$these$reasons$is$to$make$Australia$more$globally$competitive$which$will$ impact$favourably$on$our$standard$of$living.$$There$are$also$many$reasons$given$for$why$Australia’s$innovation$performance$has$been$ considered$ patchy$ and$ which$ has$ lead$ to$ declining$ productivity.$ $ $ Areas$ of$ concern$include$lack$of$government$and$business$investment$in$research$and$development$and$policy$setting.$$$$The$general$thinking$is$that$through$innovation$we$can$make$a$better$future$for$Australia$and$the$rest$of$the$world.$$It$is$through$innovation$that$as$a$society$we$will$be$able$to$deal$with$the$challenges$in$the$21st$Century,$and$also$respond$to$and$seize$opportunities.$$$Businesses$and$governments$around$the$world$acknowledge$that$a$more$creative$workforce$is$necessary$for$the$competitiveness$and$success$of$organisations$and$countries$in$the$global$economy.$$ $We$

With! innovation! and! productivity! high! on! the!

agenda!Cathryn!Lloyd!explores!why!it!is!important!

for! industry! and! government! to! foster! a! learning!

culture!that!supports!creativity.!

%

Dr!Cathryn!Lloyd!!

Principal' and' Creative' Entrepreneur' of'Maverick' Mind' a' professional' learning'and' development' consultancy' based' in'Brisbane,'Australia"

33"

are$ living$ in$ complex$ and$ uncertain$ times$ and$ therefore$ our$ ability$ to$ positively$ act$ and$respond$creatively$and$innovatively$is$indeed$necessary.$$A$ recent$ Australian$ Institute$ of$ Management$ (AIM)$ Management$ Capability$ Index$ study$(2012)$ ,$ based$ on$ the$ responses$ of$ senior$ managers$ from$ more$ than$ 250$ Australian$organisations$ indicated$ a$ sound$ governance$ and$ financial$ base$ across$ Australian$organisations.$ $ While$ there$ was$ high$ confidence$ across$ these$ areas$ managers$ consistently$rated$ their$ performance$ poorly$ in$ areas$ related$ to$ organisational$ capability,$ innovation$(products$ and$ services)$ and$ visionary$ and$ strategic$ leadership.$ $ While$ pressure$ is$ on$ for$businesses$ to$ embrace$ innovation$ in$ the$ workplace$ the$ study$ proposes$ that$ these$ results$provide$ a$ solid$ platform$ from$which$ to$ foster$ creativity$ and$ innovation$ as$ a$ central$ part$ of$business$culture.$

$If$ we$ accept$ the$ premise$that$ innovation$ is$essentially$a$good$thing$for$our$ society$ then$ how$ can$industry$ best$ support$ and$manage$ creativity$ and$innovation,$ foster$ creative$innovation$skills,$and$at$the$same$ time$ improve$management$ and$leadership$ skills?$ $ $ This$article$ focuses$on$business$and$ management$education$with$a$particular$emphasis$ on$ the$ need$ for$organisational$ learning$cultures$that$build$creative$

capacity.$ $ In$ Educating$ for$ the$ Creative$ Workforce:$ Rethinking$ Arts$ and$ Education$ (2007)$creativity$ is$ generally$ described$ as$ embodying$ generic$ attributes$ such$ as$ communication,$team>work,$ problem$ solving,$ cultural$ understanding,$ and$decision>making$ skills.$ $ The$ report$states$ that$ recent$work$on$ innovation$across$ the$economy$ suggests$ that$ it$ is$ “precisely$ the$habits$ associated$ with$ artistic$ creativity$ that$ are$ a$ vital,$ if$ neglected,$ element$ of$ current$innovation$policy.”$$$If$ we$ are$ to$ develop$ a$ creative$ workforce$ it$ makes$ sense$ to$ expose$ people$ to$ learning$experiences$that$allow$them$to$tap$into$their$intellectual$and$creative$potential.$$$Within$the$context$ of$ professional$ development$ education$ I$make$ a$ distinction$ between$ ‘training’$ and$‘learning’.$ $ From$ a$ training$ perspective$ it$ is$ assumed$ that$ industry$ and$ government$ should$provide$the$necessary$technical$skills>based$training$that$people$need$to$do$their$job.$$From$a$learning$perspective$industry$and$government$need$to$promote$learning$cultures$that$support$creativity.$ $ Using$ this$ as$ a$ jumping$ off$ point,$ this$ article$ proposes$ that$ arts>based$ learning$methodologies$ are$ integral$ to$ contemporary$professional$management$ education.$ $ There$ is$growing$evidence$through$literature$and$practice$that$this$type$of$learning$is$a$unique$vehicle$for$providing$experiences$that$can$develop$the$attributes$linked$to$leadership,$as$well$as$the$ability$to$innovate$and$respond$creatively$to$complex$situations.$

" CONCURRENCE""

A!National!Cultural!Policy!!

!

The$development$of$a$new$National$Cultural$Policy$$in$Australia$recognises$that$the$arts$play$an$ important$ role$ in$ driving$ innovation$ across$ the$ nation$ and$ contributing$ to$ productivity.$$Essentially$the$idea$is$that$a$creative$nation$is$a$more$productive$nation.$$The$policy$sets$out$a$framework$that$embeds$creative$skills$and$talent,$not$just$at$the$heart$of$cultural$life,$but$at$the$heart$of$technological$development$and$national$economic$growth.$$$It$therefore$stands$to$reason$that$a$creative$workforce$is$a$more$productive$workforce.$$$$$The$policy$ recognises$ the$ intrinsic$ value$of$ arts$ and$ creative$ activity$ in$ developing$ a$ strong$Australian$ culture,$ society,$ and$ economy.$ $ To$ that$ end$ cultural$ policy$ is$ not$ just$ about$supporting$ the$ arts.$ It$ is$ about$ supporting,$ enabling$ and$ strengthening$ communities$ and$developing$a$ creative$ culture$ that$has$ the$capacity$and$capability$ to$ take$on$ the$challenges$and$opportunities$before$us.$$This$has$implications$for$industry.$$If'a'business'has'a'creative'and'innovative'culture'it'is'more'likely'to'be'able'to'successfully'respond'and'adapt'to'the'complex' issues' of' the' 21st' Century' and' be' more' competitive.' ' The' future' brings' great'opportunities'and'many'challenges.''Businesses'that'embrace'a'creative'learning'culture'will'reap'the'rewards'of'their'innovation'and'productivity.''$

Creativity!and!Innovation!

Creativity$ and$ innovation$ are$ contested$and$widely$ debated$ terms.$ $ Innovation$ is$the$ process$ of$ implementing$ creative$ideas.$ $ In$ New$ Pathways$ to$ Prosperity:$ a$National$ Innovation$ Framework$ for$Australia$ (2006)$ $ “innovation$ is$ seen$ as$doing$ new$ things$ and$ drawing$ on$knowledge$ or$ creativity$ to$ find$ new$ and$better$ ways$ to$ add$ value$ to$ products,$services$ and$ processes”.$ $ It$ is$ also$ about$allocating$ resources$ to$ ensure$ valuable$innovative$ideas$come$to$fruition.$$$$First$ and$ foremost$ innovation$ is$ about$people.$ $ The$ starting$ point$ for$ innovation$is$ imagination$ $ along$with$ the$ generation$of$ creative$ ideas$ that$ add$ value.$ $ It$ is$people$who$have$the$creative$capacity$and$imagination$ to$ generate$ new$ ideas$ and$design$ new$ products,$ new$ services,$ new$processes$and$solutions$as$well$as$making$innovative$ improvements$ to$ existing$ products$ and$ services.$ $ We$ can’t$ really$ have$ a$conversation$ about$ innovation$ without$ talking$ about$ creativity$ the$ two$ go$ hand$ in$ hand.$$Creativity$is$a$source$of$knowledge$and$personal$expression.$$Within$the$context$of$this$article,$creativity$is$used$in$its$broadest$sense$and$is$captured$in$the$following$definitions.$$$$

35"

PricewaterHouseCoopers$ $ describes$ creativity$ as$ a$ “set$ of$ attitudes$ and$ behaviours$ that$manifests$itself$ in$different$ways$through$both$individual$and$collective$actions”.$$While$Kerr$and$ Lloyd$ suggest$ it$ is$ a$ set$ of$ “attributes$ and$ qualities$ concerned$ with$ imagination,$inventiveness,$ improvisation,$ insight,$ intuition,$ and$ curiosity$ [in$ other$ words]$ the$ natural$‘artful’$genius$and$talent$of$people”$$$Creativity$is$often$been$associated$with$the$arts$and$cultural$activity$when$it$ is$ in$fact$at$the$heart$of$all$endeavours.$$$While$it$is$fitting$that$creativity$is$part$of$the$conversation,$as$it$is$a$key$ component$ to$ innovation,$what$ is$ challenging$ about$ this$ is$ that$ creativity$ is$ an$ elusive$quality$ that$ is$ hard$ to$ pin$ down$ and$ define.$ $ The$ creative$ process$ is$ difficult,$ complex$ and$confusing$ and$ this$ provides$ a$ conundrum$ for$ how$ business$ can$ best$ foster$ and$ manage$creativity$to$help$improve$workplace$performance.$$$$Creative'innovation'comes'from'many'sources'including'the'arts,'science,'business,'research'and' development,' and' communities.' ' In' today’s' global' economy' the' arts' and' creative'industries'are'fundamental'to'Australia’s' identity'as'a'society'and'nation,'and'increasingly'to'our'success'as'a'national'economy.''''$This$ links$to$the$Educating$for$the$Creative$Workforce:$Rethinking$Arts$and$Education$report$which$states$that$the$focus$of$economic$policymakers$across$the$world$on$all$things$‘creative’$is$driven$essentially$by$three$separate,$but$interlinked$factors.$$These$include$(i)$the$growth$of$the$creative$and$cultural$sectors$(currently$growing$at$more$than$twice$the$rate$of$the$world$economy$as$a$whole)$(ii)$creative$inputs$as$a$part$of$wider$innovation$policy$(creatively$trained$labour$is$in$demand$>$think$for$instance$the$use$of$design$across$industry$sectors)$and$(iii)$the$skills,$aptitudes,$and$ways$of$working$that$creative$practitioners$bring$to$their$practice$(team$work,$ communication$ and$ presentation$ skills)$ are$ increasingly$ in$ demand$ across$ a$ range$ of$workplace$environments.$ $These$ factors$are$relevant$as$ they$highlight$a$changing$workforce$that$has$a$need$for$increased$creative$and$emotional$intelligence.$$What$is$becoming$obvious$is$ that$ the$ contemporary$workplace$ requires$people$who$ can$ think$ imaginatively$ as$well$ as$analytically.$$If$this$is$the$case$then$different$types$of$learning$and$training$are$necessary.$$$

$

" CONCURRENCE""

Imagining!the!Future!

!

While$there$are$many$facets$that$make$up$an$ innovative$ society$ and$ there$ are$ no$easy$fixes$there$are$at$least$two$strategies$worth$investigating:$$The$ first$ creative$ act$ is$ for$ businesses$ to$engage$ in$ meaningful$ and$ realistic$discussions$ around$ creativity,$ innovation$and$ productivity$ with$ their$ employees.$$Simple$and$clear$dialogue$is$required$that$outlines$what$these$concepts$mean$to$the$organisation$ and$ to$ our$ society.$ $ People$need$ to$ understand$ why$ it$ might$ be$necessary$ to$ embrace$ this$ type$ of$thinking.$ $ These$ discussions$ should$include$ everyone$ so$ as$ to$ generate$understanding$ as$ well$ as$ to$ motivate,$inspire$and$empower$people$so$they$may$be$willing$to$bring$their$full$creative$selves$to$their$work.$$The$ second$ creative$ act$ is$ for$ businesses$to$provide$learning$experiences$that$draw$on$ a$ range$ of$ art>based$ methodologies$and$ to$ also$ promote$ and$ support$organisational$ cultures$ that$ foster$ and$ tap$ into$ the$ creative$ intelligence$ of$ people.$ $Good'technical'skills'based'training'will'never'be'out'of'fashion'and'it'is'essential'that'businesses'and' governments' provide' the' necessary' and' appropriate' training.' However,' if' we' are' to'innovate' and' find' solutions' to' complex' issues'we' need' to' do'more' than' simply' invest' in'technical'training.'''$Given'the'push'for'innovation'organisations'will'need'to'provide'a'culture'where:'

• experiential' learning' and' development' that' utilise' arts(based' learning'methodologies'are'embedded'in'organisational'learning'and'development'

• creativity'is'recognised'as'a'process''• creativity'is'encouraged'throughout'the'organisation''• collaboration'and'cross'fertilisation'happens'internally'and'externally'• experimentation'is'encouraged'• risk'and'failure'are'understood'as'being'part'of'the'creative'process'• curiosity'and'‘what'if’'questions'are'valued'• the'motivation'of'individuals'is'understood'• flexibility'is'offered'–'creativity'is'not'a'tap'that'can'be'turned'on'and'off'• resources'are'allocated''

'

The!second!creative!act!

is!for!businesses!to!

provide!learning!

experiences!that!draw!

on!a!range!of!

art9based!

methodologies!

and!to!also!promote!and!

support!organisational!

cultures!that!foster!and!

tap!into!the!creative!

intelligence!of!people.!!%

37"

$$Looking$ to$ the$ future,$ for$Australia$ to$build$ a$ creative$workforce$will$ necessitate$ a$ creative$approach.$ $ It$ no$ longer$ serves$ us$ to$ work$ in$ a$ siloed$ way.$ $ New$ industry$ relationships,$intersections,$and$dialogues$are$needed.$$Given$the$impending$slowing$down$of$the$resources$boom$ in$ Australia$ real$ innovation$ is$ paramount$ if$ we$ are$ going$ to$ have$ a$ productive$ and$competitive$economy.$$The$key$to$this$is$fostering$and$valuing$a$culture$of$creativity.$$$$$Dr! Cathryn! Lloyd! is! the! Principal! and! creative! entrepreneur! of! Maverick! Mind! a! professional! learning! and!

development! consultancy.! ! Cathryn! holds! a! Doctoral! Degree! in! Creative! Industries! (Research).! ! Cathryn! is!

passionate!about!working!with!businesses!to!develop!powerful!creative!learning!cultures.!!She!is!experienced!

in! the! arts,! design! and! business! and! brings! an! eclectic! approach! to! her! facilitation! and! design! of! learning!

experiences.!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Sources:$

1. Australian$Government,$Dept$ Industry,$ Innovation,$ Science,$ Research$ and$ Tertiary$ Education,$2009:$$Powering$Ideas:$An$Innovation$Agenda$for$the$21st$Century$

2. Australian$Institute$of$Management,$2012:$$Australian$Management$Capability$Index$3. ARC$ Centre$ of$ Excellence$ for$ Creative$ Industries$ and$ Innovation,$ 2007:$ $ Educating$ for$ the$

Creative$Workforce:$Rethinking$Arts$and$Education$$4. Australian$ Government,$ Dept$ of$ the$ Prime$ Minister$ and$ Cabinet$ Office$ for$ the$ Arts,$ 2011:$

National$Cultural$Policy$Discussion$paper$5. Business$ Council$ of$ Australia,$ 2006:$ $ $ New$ Pathways$ to$ Prosperity:$ A$ National$ Innovation$

Framework$for$Australia$6. PriceWaterhouseCoopers,$2005:$$Cities$of$the$Future:$global$competition,$global$leadership$7. Kerr$and$Lloyd,$2008:$$Pedagogical$learnings$for$management$education:$Developing$Creative$

and$Innovation,$Journal$of$Management$and$Organization$8. ABS$2011$Competition,$ Innovation$and$Productivity$ in$Australian$Businesses$ (Research$paper)$

http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/896C28E59CC4B822CA2579050014C578/$File/1351055035_sep%202011.pdf$

9. Business$Council$of$Australia,$2011:$Vision$and$Values$(annual$review)$10. Business$Council$of$Australia,$2012:$$One$Country.$Many$Voices$(annual$review);$$11. HCA$Online$2012$

$

" CONCURRENCE""

Book!Review$!

'What!If'!by!Randall!Munroe$$Physics$can$be$Fun!$With$questions$like$this:$If$everyone$on$the$planet$stayed$away$from$each$other$for$a$couple$of$weeks,$wouldn't$the$common$cold$be$wiped$out?$$Hmmmm.$$

Sample$this:$what$would$happen$if$you$tried$to$build$a$physical$model$of$ the$periodic$ table$of$ the$elements,$in$which$each$element$was$ represented$by$ an$ actual$brick$of$the$substance$in$question?$You$could$probably$construct$ the$ first$ two$ rows$ successfully.$ But$ then$your$problems$begin.$ The$ third$ row$ catches$ fire,$ and$the$ fourth$ kills$ you$ with$ toxic$ gas.$ The$ fifth$ adds$ a$lethal$ dose$ of$ radiation,$ while$ the$ sixth$ explodes$violently.$ What$ about$ the$ seventh?$ Follow$ Randall$Munroe's$advice:$"Do$not$build$the$seventh$row."$$With$ laconic$ humour$ and$ clear$ thinking$ Randall$Munroe$ tries$ to$ use$ science$ to$ explain$ absurd$questions,$ raised$ by$ five>year$ olds.$ $ And$ makes$ the$book$a$super$ read.$He$not$ just$answers$and$explains,$but$ goes$ beyond$ and$ connects$ dots$ and$ talks$ of$implications$and$ramifications.$This$is$creativity$of$the$highest$order$–$simplification$and$synthesis.$$

$As$Steven$Poole,$author$of$ ‘Yoy$Aren’t$What$You$Eat’$points$out$ in$ the$Wall$ Street$ Journal:$“Mr.$Munroe$leavens$the$hard$science$with$whimsical$touches.$Investigating$how$far$you$can$throw$something$vertically,$he$announces:$ "I$will$ give$ these$heights$ in$units$of$giraffes."$He$enjoys$ the$ amusingly$ brutal$ payoff.$ (What$ would$ happen$ if$ you$ tried$ to$ fly$ an$ electrically$powered$aeroplane$on$Venus?$"Your$plane$would$ fly$pretty$well,$except$ it$would$be$on$ fire$the$whole$ time.$ .$ .$ .$ Venus$ is$ a$ terrible$ place.")$ He$ also$ pokes$ fun$ at$ some$ conventions$ of$Internet>age$ scholarship.$ Anyone$ who$ is$ familiar$ with$ seeing$ the$ superscript$ "[citation$needed]"$at$the$end$of$a$sentence$on$Wikipedia,$for$example,$will$enjoy$Mr.$Munroe's$habit$of$appending$ it$ to$ perfectly$ uncontroversial$ claims,$ such$ as$ that$ "Falling$ from$ great$ heights$ is$dangerous.$[citation$needed]"$or$"A$mole$(the$animal)$is$small$enough$for$me$to$pick$up$and$throw.$[citation$needed]."”$$$$$$$

39"

"What' If?"' began' as' a' series' on'Munroe's' website,' in' which' he' pedantically' applied' his'considerable' scientific' expertise' (he' once' worked' on' robots' at' NASA)' to' apparently'ridiculous'questions'sent'by'readers.'Some'of'the'best'online'examples'are'collected'here,'along'with'many'new'ones.'Asked'what'would'happen'if'you'tried'to'hit'a'baseball'that'was'moving'at'90%'of'the'speed'of'light,'the'author'states:'"I'sat'down'with'some'physics'books,'a'Nolan'Ryan'action'figure,'and'a'bunch'of'videotapes'of'nuclear'tests."'(The'reference'to'nuclear'tests'is'an'early'clue'that'this'scenario'is'not'good'news'for'the'batter.)'$And$with$some$terrific$illustrations!$

$$I! heard! a! great! interview!on!NPR! in! September! 2014.!Here! are! the!

excerpts,!that!say!it!all!!!

!

On!the!best!kinds!of!outlandish!questions$Some$of$my$favorite$questions$actually$come$from$parents$submitted$on$behalf$of$their$little$kids.$ ...$ I$ find$ that$ the$questions$ from$adults$ are$more$ like$ they're$ trying$ to$be$as$wacky$as$possible,$ but$ the$ kids$ ask$ very$ simple$ questions$ that$ sometimes$ have$ kind$ of$ surprising$consequences.$$Like,$one$guy$wrote$in,$he$said:$My$daughter$wants$to$build$a$billion>story$building.$I$haven't$been$able$to$convince$her$...$that$this$is$not$possible,$and$so$maybe$you$can$take$a$crack$at$it.$And$so$I$wrote$an$article,$you$know,$explaining$to$her,$you$know,$if$you$try$to$build$a$building$progressively$higher,$here$are$the$problems$you're$gonna$run$ into:$eventually$ it$gets$so$tall,$you$know,$that$it$collapses;$but$then$you$figure$out$a$way$to$build$it$stronger;$but$then$it$gets$so$tall$that$it's$sticking$out$into$orbit$and$satellites$start$colliding$with$it.$You$know,$and$then$it$takes$you$through$all$these$different$interesting$physics$ideas.$$On!whether!his!scientific!answers!take!the!fun!out!of!a!question's!fantasy$I$ think,$you$know,$maybe$a$billion>story$building$there$are$some$logistical$problems$you$run$into.$ But$ at$ the$ same$ time,$ you$ get$ to$ paint$ this$ picture$ of$ these$orbiting$ stations$ and$ this$

" CONCURRENCE""

tension$on$the$building,$you$know,$you'd$have$these$cables$and$these$ incredibly$high>speed$elevators.$ ...$ It$ends$up$painting$a$wilder$picture$than$what$you$were$originally$starting$with$and$I$think$that,$you$know,$can$be$even$more$exciting$and$more$romantic.$$On!what!would!happen!if!everyone! in! the!world!gathered! in!one!place!and! jumped!at! the!

same!time$A$couple$of$different$people$have$tackled$this$—$you$know,$said,$"Oh,$if$everyone$jumped$at$once$in$one$place$would$it$disrupt$the$Earth's$orbit$or$something?"$And$the$answer$to$that$is$a$little$bit$disappointing,$which$is$that$not$a$lot$would$happen.$

$"Earth'outweighs'us'by'a'factor'of'over'ten'trillion,"'Munroe'writes.'"On'average,'we'humans'can'vertically'jump'maybe'half'a'meter'on'a'good'day.'Even'if'the'Earth'were'rigid'and'responded'instantly,'it'would'be'pushed'down'by'less'than'an'atom's'width."'Randall'Munroe/Courtesy'of'Houghton'Mifflin'Harcourt'

'I$thought,$well,$there's$not$a$lot$I$can$say$about$that,$but$then$I$started$wondering,$like,$wait$a$minute,$you've$gathered$everyone$in$the$world$in$one$place,$magically,$that's$the$premise$of$the$question;$but$then$what$happens?$$

$After'the'jump,'Munroe'writes,'"There'are'a'lot'of'uncomfortable'glances.'Someone'coughs."'Randall'Munroe/Courtesy'of'Houghton'Mifflin'Harcourt'

$And$I$started$trying$to$figure$out$if$you$gathered$everyone,$you$know,$in$Rhode$Island$—$they$would$take$up$an$area$about$the$size$of$Rhode$Island$—$then,$you$know,$how$many$people$can$get$out$of$Rhode$Island$per$hour?$What's$the$capacity$of$all$the$ports$—$you$know,$the$airports,$the$ships?$How$many$cars$are$there$in$Rhode$Island?$And$then$it$turns$out$the$rate$is$not$that$high,$so$it$brings$you$to$another$question,$which$is$how$much$food$is$there$in$Rhode$Island?$ Because$ there's$ no$ one$ working$ the$ farms$ to$ supply$ more$ food$ to$ Rhode$ Island$

41"

because$ everyone$ is$ already$in$Rhode$ Island.$ It$ turns$ out,$ within$ a$ matter$ of$ a$ couple$ of$weeks,$Rhode$Island$would$be$the$graveyard$of$most$of$the$human$race$in$this$scenario.$

!

On! the! "weird! and!

worrying"! questions!

he! includes! in! the!

book! but! doesn't!

answer,! like! "How!

fast! would! a! human!

have! to! run! in! order!

to!be!cut!in!half!at!the!

belly! button! by! a!

cheese9cutting!wire?"$Yeah,$ that's$ in$ a$category$ of$ question$that$ I$ haven't$answered$ because$ I$

don't$want$to$think$about$that.$It's$just$like$—$my$skin$crawls$imagining$that.$Another$question$like$that$was,$"How$cold$would$your$teeth$have$to$get$in$order$for$a$cup$of$hot$coffee$to$make$them$shatter$on$contact?"$And$that's$a$question$I've$never$gotten$past$just$the$initial$mental$image.$$On!his!own!what9if!questions$I'm$ looking$at$ a$ studio$ and$ I$might$ think,$ if$ I'm$daydreaming$ in$between$ taping,$ you$ know:$What$ if$ I$ filled$this$studio$with$water?$Would$the$windows$be$strong$enough?$...$How$many$play$pen$balls$would$it$take$to$fill$it$if$you$wanted$to$make$a$ball$pit$here?$How$much$would$that$cost?$$

______$$$So$his$work$becomes$an$illuminating$handbook$of$methods$of$reasoning$from$first$principles:$work$ by$ analogy,$ perform$ very$ rough$ orders>of>magnitude$ calculations,$ or$ try$ to$ flip$perspectives.$ Of$ course$ it$ helps$ to$ know$ some$ basic$ science,$ too.$ And$ learning$ Newtonian$mechanics$ is$ surely$ more$ fun$ when$ you$ are$ figuring$ out$ how$ to$ build$ a$ jetpack$ using$downward>firing$machine$guns.$(Ideally,$it$turns$out,$you'd$want$at$least$300$AK>47s.)$$A$great,$fun$read.$$$$$$Sources:$

1. https://whatDif.xkcd.com/$2. http://www.wsj.com/articles/bookDreviewDwhatDifDbyDrandallDmunroeD1411160673$3. http://www.npr.org/2014/09/07/346082579/whatDifDthereDwereDanDentireDbookDdevotedDtoD

absurdDhypotheticals$

" CONCURRENCE""

And!in!the!end!

!

Almost! 70! years! ago,$ in$1956,$Louis$R.$Mobley$built$ the$ IBM$Executive$School$to$make$IBM$senior$managers$more$creative.$He$focused$on$6$key$principles$to$drive$home$his$agenda,$ that$ aimed$ not$ just$ at$ teaching,$ but$ also$ transforming.$ These$ principles$ are$ highly$relevant$today$–$they$made$IBM$a$great$company.$In$a$Forbes$article,$August$Turakk$outlined$these$principles$nicely.$Adapted$from$there:$they$are$simple,$and$can$be$adapted$by$each$of$us$in$our$daily$lives.$$1. Creative$people$rarely$rely$on$traditional$teaching$methods$(reading,$ lecturing,$testing,$

memorizing),$which$are$ found$ to$be$worse$ than$useless;$ they$are$ counter$productive,$they$build$‘boxes’.$

2. Creative$people$are$constatnly$on$an$UNLEARNINg$process,$not$learning$–$you$need$to$abandon,$discard,$destroy$and$trash$beloved$assumptions.$

3. Creative$ people$ don’t$ learn,$ they$ become!$ You$ cannot$ learn$ to$ become$ creative.$Instead,$ you$ BECOME$ a$ creative$ person$ behaviorally,$ by$ your$ actions.$ You$ transform$yourself.$By$action$learning,$constant$effort$and$practice,$you$find$solutions$to$problems$that$are$totally$unobvious.$Practice$creative$thinking,$in$everything!$

4. Creative$people$hang$around$with$ creative$people.$ That’s$ the$ fastest$way$ to$generate$creative$ ideas$ –$ because$ creativity$ is$ infectious.$ Association$ makes$ an$ enormous$difference.$

5. Creative$people$are$honest$ about$ themselves.$Creativity$ is$highly$ correlated$with$ self>knowledge.$ If$ you$don’t$ know$what$ your$ own$ inner$ biases$ are,$ you$ cannot$ overcome$them.$Mobley’s$school$was$one$“big$mirror”.$

6. Creative$ people$ give$ themselves$ permission,$ and$ others,$ TO$ BE$WRONG.$$$ Fail$ fast$ to$succeed$ early,$ is$ the$ principle.$ There$ are$ no$ bad$ ideas,$ only$ building$ blocks$ to$ good$ideas,$as$Edison$believes$and$practiced.$

!

!

!

!

Source:$http://www.forbes.com/sites/augustturak/2011/05/22/canDcreativityDbeDtaught/$!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

43"

$!

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