Diversity, creative style and problem-solving : a discussion of outcome and organizational implications

Abstract

If innovative change is followed by more innovation, costs tend to rise, and the organisation moves towards a more chaotic form. The opposite occurs where innovation is avoided, adaptive ideas predominate, and organisations move towards a more predictable form with low differentiation between competitors. By continuing with either style to the point where profitability is affected, the organisation moves towards the lower end of performance ranking for the sector albeit by different routes. To avoid this position, it is necessary to have enough stylistic diversity available to the team or the organisation to both generate ideas and make decisions that offer a situational advantage. Without such diversity, a diminishing organisational performance can be expected.