Week 4 Reading Reflection

Week 4 Reading Reflection

1) What was the biggest surprise for you in the reading? In other words, what did you read that stood out the most as different from your expectations? 

• While Kuratko was defining nine methods to develop creativity, the ninth method was surprising. "Remembering your wildest dreams". Elias Howe invented the sewing machine. His idea came to him in his dreams. The dream he had were cannibals piercing his flesh with spears. How crazy is that? He took what seemed like a nightmare, and used his creativity to turn it into an invention.

2) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

·         “For creativity to occur, chaos is a necessary-but a structured and focused chaos.” (157, Kuratko) I wasn’t sure what Kuratko meant by this. Usually chaos is associated in a negative way. Did he just mean, “out of the ordinary”? In a positive viewpoint, it could be explained as an overwhelmed flux of ideas. Why would chaos be necessary?

3) If you were able to ask two questions to the author, what would you ask? Why?

·         How would Patents work for a duplication in innovative products or ideas? A creative replication of an existing concept? As long as no one else thought of it, how do you patent an “additional” idea? I thought of asking these questions, because there are so many methods used to develop creativity. You need to be able to protect your idea.

·         While performing the creative exercise, I found it difficult to find functions for an ‘egotistical staff member’ and the ‘office tightwad’. These two items on the list were the most negative. What would the author list as functions for these? I would like to know his opinion and viewpoint on this.

4) Was there anything you think the author was wrong about? Where do you disagree with what she or he said? How?

·         The one thing that I didn’t agree with the author was “idea killers”. This may hinder some people’s creative processes. However, I think it depends on the person’s outlook. It can have some positive influence on others. It can act as a drive force. Such as, if someone says you can’t do something, they do it to prove them wrong. Therefore, these so called “idea killers” can push for a driving force in innovation.