Bias in Creative Adoption Decision Points: Why Receivers Hinder the Creativity–Innovation Process

Abstract

Organizations may fail to innovate because receivers exhibit bias against adopting creative ideas. This paper explores many motivational, cognitive, and affective factors that can cause receivers to hinder the creativity–innovation process. In particular, receivers may engage in motivated reasoning and skepticism against creative ideas, face barriers to recognizing creative value, and experience negative affect when receiving creative ideas. Each creative adoption decision point during the creativity–innovation process is an opportunity for bias to derail progress. This helps explain why innovation can be so difficult. Understanding the biases that hinder the creativity–innovation process allows individuals and organizations to take action to mitigate them.

Citation

Johnson, W.R. (2022), "Bias in Creative Adoption Decision Points: Why Receivers Hinder the Creativity–Innovation Process", Cattani, G., Deichmann, D. and Ferriani, S. (Ed.) The Generation, Recognition and Legitimation of Novelty (Research in the Sociology of Organizations, Vol. 77), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 205-228. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0733-558X20220000077016