Week 4: Reading Reflection (Chapter 5)

1). Something that stood out that was different from my expectations was the ways to train and develop right and left-hemisphere skills. At least for me, the processes associated with the left and right-hemispheres of the brain have always been talked about as skills that we were born with. For example, you are either seen as a very analytical or imaginative type of person. Viewing these skillsets as something that can be learned and trained is a different way to look at it to develop skills you may not be as good at.

2). I understood everything in the chapter fairly well, but the arenas of creativity were probably the hardest concept to grasp because it was a new way of examining the creative process. Although I have no questions in particular, it was different to break it down into seven individual arenas to recognize areas in which we can be creative.

3). My first question would be how did you come up with the characteristics of the creative climate? Although I agree with the characteristics listed, it seems to be a unique list of what the author believes makes a successful climate. IT also is unusual that many of the other bulleted lists are short and sweet, while this list is composed of 10 elements, which is more than usual. My second question would be why the creative process is so heavily linked with innovation? As you mentioned, there are four types of innovation, so it isn’t always a new idea coming to life. Although I think creativity often goes hand in hand, creativity is even part of the chapter title, so it is a major focus of this chapter.

4). There is nothing in particular that I completely disagree with. There are a few concepts that I think are better in theory and not as straightforward in the real-world, such as the creative process having four distinct phases, but I do agree that most processes follow that general path. As with anything we learn in a textbook, I think it is just important to put it into a real-life perspective and realize that even if it deviates slightly from the model, it follows the general trend and has many of the same themes.