Three Dimensions for Examining Creative Productivity

By Reg Talbot

Originally appeared in the International Creativity Network Newsletter, volume 2, number 2, 1992, page 7.

Everyone has creative potential. To be in process of realizing her or his creative potential, an individual needs three things: the motive, the means, and the opportunity. I define these in the following ways:

• Motive. The desire to be creative (to go beyond previous solutions to problems), plus belief in one's own ability to be creative.
• Means. Domain-relevant knowledge and skills; Creative Problem Solving skills:
• Opportunity. The time and space to perceive and to tackle problems.

These three dimensions interact. All three are necessary for creativity. The absence of one (or more) means no creativity. Depending upon what is missing, different courses of action might be suggested. Let's take a look at what might happen when just one of the necessary ingredients is missing- either the Opportunity, or the Motive, or the Means.

Frustrated... No Opportunity

If, for example, an individual has the Motive and the Means, but not the Opportunity, he or she is likely to be feeling very frustrated. In this case, the individual needs to develop means of creating, and then preserving and defending, Opportunity for creative effort. This might involve one or more of the following strategies:

• Gaining some control of or access to necessary resources;
• Obtaining a suitable position or role (in an organization for example);
• Developing her or his ability to persuade others to make time and space and resources available;
• Inspiring others to strive to make space for her or him (by virtue of the quality of one's work, for example).

These are all based on forms of power. To get the time and space for creativity we need power of some kind, and the skills to use whatever power we have to exert influence on others. To some extent we are all dependent on others (and on our ability to influence others) for Oppor-tunities to be creative.

Uncommitted... No Motive

If an individual has the Means and the Opportunity, but not the Motive, it is likely that he or she needs encouragement or support to help improve self-belief, or perhaps a successful creative experience to help (re)awaken the desire to be creative.

Unable... No Means

If an individual has the Motive and the Opportunity, but not the Means, some direction, training, or experience could be useful. Assuming an individual did have the domain-relevant knowledge and skills important for the area in which he or she works, training in Creative Problem Solving skills would be appropriate, for example.

This framework can provide some useful insights for educators, particularly creativity trainers, who might be interested in diagnosing the training needs of potential or actual course participants. It does suggest that in some cases, CPS training, though of intrinsic value, could be a source of frustration to people. When they lack the Opportunity to practice their newly developed creative skills, or the power to create such opportunities, other training dimensions also need to be explored.