The digital era is driving the entire world through unprecedented, unpredictable, and breakneck transformations. Both individuals and organizations are challenged as we live in a society where those who do not creatively innovate risk failure in any of several domains of life (Kaufman and Sternberg, 2010).

The striking paradox is that though organizations exist to provide solutions to society’s needs and problems, they are also confronted with the complex challenge of surviving whilst remaining swiftly responsive (Hitt, 1975). Hence, to remain competitive and avoid extinction, organizations must adapt to the prevailing transformative changes. They are forced to acclimate to the ongoing processes of digital, technological, and climate transitions. Strategically, they are required to lead using innovative practices, processes, products, and services. However, for that purpose, organizations must have creative employees  (Puccio & Cabra, 2010).

Creativity plays a central role in today’s workplaces and organizations. Creative thinking and creative problem-solving are fundamental workplace skills of the 21^st Century. In this perspective, the Word Economic Forum ( 2015) urges to step beyond traditional workers’ skills set in this forthright statement :

“To thrive in today’s innovation-driven economy, workers need a different mix of skills than in the past. In addition to foundational skills like literacy and numeracy, they need competencies like collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving, and character qualities like persistence, curiosity, and initiative. Changes in the labor market have heightened the need for all individuals, and not just a few, to have these skills. In countries around the world, economies run on creativity, innovation and collaboration”.

To thrive amidst the digital era, students, workers, professionals, managers, entrepreneurs, and leaders must unquestionably foster creativity and innovation skills. For lifelong learning, they are requested to continually polish and upgrade their creativity skills and innovation practices.

Alexis RUSINE,
Researcher-Consultant

REFERENCES

Hitt, M. A. (1975). The creative organization: Tomorrow’s survivors. The Journal of Creative Behaviour, 9, 283-290.

Kaufman, J. C., & Sternberg, R. J. (2010). The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Puccio, J. F., & Cabra, G. J. (2010). Organizational creativity. A systems approach. in J. C. Sternberg, The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity. Cambridge University Press.

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM. (2015). New Vision for Education. Unlocking the Potential of Technology.