The effects of goal setting procedures and personal discretion on individuals' creativity
Shalley, Christina Ellen
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Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/21733
Description
Title
The effects of goal setting procedures and personal discretion on individuals' creativity
Author(s)
Shalley, Christina Ellen
Issue Date
1989
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Oldham, Greg R.
Department of Study
Business Administration
Discipline
Business Administration
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Business Administration, Management
Language
eng
Abstract
This research examined whether situational factors have significant effects on individuals' creativity on job related problems. Three situational factors were examined: productivity goal setting, creativity goal setting (i.e., a goal to be creative), and personal discretion in work procedures. These factors were chosen because of the relevance to creativity and their use in organizations. A laboratory study was conducted with a 3 x 3 x 2 experimental design. Subjects worked on an in-basket exercise. Creativity was measured using a consensual assessment technique developed by Amabile (1983), in which three judges independently evaluated the overall creativity of each response generated. These ratings were then averaged across solutions generated by an individual to obtain a score indicating their overall level of creativity on the task. Results of a three-way ANOVA indicated that creativity was lowest in the following three conditions: when individuals were assigned to do your best productivity goal and no creativity goal, a difficult productivity goal and no creativity goal, or no creativity goal and low personal discretion. Results also indicated that both creativity and productivity were high when individuals were assigned a difficult productivity goal and a do your best creativity goal or a difficult productivity goal and a difficult creativity goal. These results were interpreted as indicated as indicating that productivity goals and low personal discretion in themselves do not harm creativity as long as a creativity goal is also assigned. However, when no creativity goal is assigned and individuals are given a productivity goal or low personal discretion in work procedures, their creativity appears to be detrimentally affected. Potential implications of these results for organizations interested in enhancing individuals' creativity and innovation are discussed.
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