Creativity in the organization: the role of individual creative problem solving and computer support

Organizational support of employees' creative problem-solving (CPS) outputs is critical for maintaining a competitive advantage and for institutionalizing creativity. We believe that computerized creative support systems (CCSS) can be used effectively in this regard. We identify characteristics of CCSS and individual characteristics and suggest directions for empirical research to evaluate how these characteristics may affect an individual's CPS process and resulting creative outcomes. We also demonstrate the importance of individual creativity to organizational creativity and suggest directions for research to contribute to institutionalized creativity in the organization. We illustrate our arguments with sets of empirical research propositions based upon both process and outcomes. (C) 2001 Academic Press.