When antecedents diverge: Exploring novelty and value as dimensions of creativity

Though an ongoing debate exists concerning how creativity should be defined and measured, it is generally agreed upon that creativity is the generation of ideas that are novel and of value (Amabile, 1996 and Hennessey and Amabile, 2010). Yet most studies treat creativity as a black box in regards to the nature of the relationships between some commonly known antecedents of creativity and its two prime components, namely novelty and value. This is the issue we address in this exploratory paper as we look at antecedents that are similarly related and differentially related to novelty and value. We propose that such relationships could have an impact on creative outcomes in organizations. We also discuss potential implications for broader application to practitioners interested in learning how to boost their employee creativity and organizational innovativeness.

Research highlights► Our paper discusses creativity and its two prime components, novelty and value. ► We look at antecedents that are similarly related and differentially related to novelty and value. ► Such relationships could have an impact on creative outcomes in organizations. ► Implications for boosting employee creativity and organizational innovation are discussed.