Creativity, trust and systematic processes in product development
Journal article, 2012
This paper addresses the challenge of striking a balance between, on one hand, mitigating uncertainty through the existence of systematic processes and structures and, on the other, stimulating creativity through allowable variation in work processes and structures. Both objectives are fundamental aspects of product development work. Our main finding is that both objectives can be achieved simultaneously. We introduce trust as a mediating variable. We show first, that being systematic in the processes for obtaining information and applying explicit organizational rules and structures in product development work creates an atmosphere of trust in the organization. Second, we show that trust increases creativity. The paper contributes to an understanding of how and why trust is important in product development organizations and of how trust can be actively managed. Above all, the paper contributes to the understanding of how uncertainty and creativity should be managed in organizations conducting product development.
organizations
knowledge creation
development-projects
Trust
management
Process
Structure
Creativity
model
work-environment
research-and-development
exploitation
managerial trust
drivers
Product development
Author
A. Brattstrom
Stockholm School of Economics
Hans Löfsten
Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Supply and Operations Management
A. Richtner
Stockholm School of Economics
Research Policy
0048-7333 (ISSN)
Vol. 41 4 743-755Subject Categories
Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
DOI
10.1016/j.respol.2011.12.003