What is creativity & Innovation?

What is CREATIVITY? What is INNOVATION? How do you define an IDEA?

Often the terms 'creativity' and 'innovation' are used interchangeably. Rightly or worngly, the two words are treated by many as synonyms. But do they espouse the same concepts? Is there a difference between the two? What about 'ideas', which is often used in connection to creativity and innovation? A proper understanding of these three terms is crucial before we attempt to embrace and practice innovation.

IDEAS COME FROM A NEW WAY OF THINKING, A NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS

 It all begins with an idea. An idea is the starting point of creativity and innovation. Without ideas there can never be anything creative or innovative. Just like without cells there can be no living things. Ideas are the building blocks of creativity and innovation. An idea is like a seed waiting to be planted, waiting to grow and mature into something beautiful. An idea has to be new and fresh. An old idea is like a dead seed, lifeless and unproductive

CREATIVITY IS THE PROCESS OF GATHERING AND GENERATING NEW IDEAS. 

Creativity may be defined as ‘idea generation’. Being creative is to be able to generate or to come up with ideas. Or even to gather ideas. The new idea can be simple or it can be complex. When a child thinks of an idea, even if it is a naughty one, he is being creative. Similarly, when a scientist seizes on an idea, he is exercising creativity. Creativity is hence a process, or a thinking process to be exact. Creativity comes from the word ‘create’. What is ‘created’ or ‘generated’ is the idea.

INNOVATION IS CREATIVITY IMPLEMENTED.

Innovation, on the other hand, can be described as ‘creativity implemented’. Innovation is putting the idea into practice. While creativity is a thinking process, innovation is a productive process. Innovation adds value to the idea, which otherwise remains as a mere idea. If the idea is likened to a seed, then innovation is the plant that results from planting and nurturing the seed.