Creativity and innovation are related but distinct concepts. Creativity involves generating novel ideas, while innovation structures ideas into commercially viable products and processes. Specifically: - Creativity leads to innovation by coming up with new ideas, but innovation further develops ideas into usable solutions. - Creativity tends to be spontaneous, while innovation is a structured process of screening, developing, and implementing ideas. - Most managers have trouble distinguishing between creativity and innovation, not realizing they involve different skills and processes.

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Innovation Vs Creativity
Innovation & Creativity have strong linkages, but they are not the same. Creativity leads
to Innovation. It is a sub-set of innovation but an important constituent.
It takes creative people to generate ideas that are novel. Innovation structures the idea
– gives it form, executes the idea & thus makes it commercially workable.
 Creativity is usually spontaneous.
 Creativity is still considered by many to be a gift, but it’s been proven, that’s just a
myth!
 It isn’t possible to structure creativity as much as innovation.
On the contrary, Innovation is completely different ball game.
 Innovation is a structured process of screening and converting creative ideas into
commercially viable value to customers, shareholders and society
 Innovation involves leadership commitment
 Innovation requires patience and perseverance
By the way, 80% of managers can’t differentiate between creativity & innovation. It’s a
fact!

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That’s why I thought this quick note will be useful.
About the Author:
Neil started Canopus Business Management Group in 2009.
He helps a range of large enterprises in services and manufacturing, with particular emphasis on
execution of business & functional strategies, customer experience & process transformation. He
has worked with banking, outsourcing, IT, discrete manufacturing & telecom business processes.
He draws on extensive experience (15 years) in Hoshin Kanri, Blue Ocean Strategy, Lean, Six Sigma,
Outsourcing, Change Management and Touch point Management to deliver composite solutions that put client’s
business in an Advantageous & Profitable position.
Client engagements aim at eliminating the barriers for seamless execution of strategies, carpet bombing customer
touch points, diagnostic interventions on customer churn & retention and implementation of transformational
projects.
He can be reached at neil@collaborat.com or +91 9176616766.