Promoting Creative Thinking and Innovation at MatchBox Architects

This report focuses on corporate innovation and entrepreneurship, specifically within the context of MatchBox Architects Ltd., a design-led architectural practice. The study explores the importance of creative thinking in enhancing innovation and overall business performance. It examines the concept of corporate innovation, emphasizing its role in reducing operational costs and increasing profitability. The report delves into the critical analysis of individual critical thinking skills and evaluates contemporary perspectives. The analysis utilizes a creative thinking model to provide actionable recommendations for MatchBox Architects Ltd., with the aim of fostering a culture of innovation, improving productivity, and gaining a competitive advantage in the market. The report covers topics such as the significance of creativity and innovation, barriers to these, the CPS process, architects vs. contemporary leadership, and the climate for innovation and creativity. The report aims to help the firm organize its plans to promote innovation and achieve sustainable growth.

Corporate Innovation and
Entrepreneurship

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Corporate innovation refers as the profitable execution of such ideas which are creative
and delivers some value to company. Creativity and innovation assists an organisation in
improving its business activities and operations which in turn reduce cost and increase
profitability. Entrepreneurship is a process of establishing new venture by taking up risk with
aim of earning higher profits. This report summarises about research plan related with promoting
critical thinking within organisation with the view of enhancing innovation so that overall
objectives can be accomplish. The study is done by covering some facts through conducting in-
depth analysis of creative thinking skills by support of contemporary contributors. Various
approaches are covered in this research that assists in analysing thinking capability of employees.
Corporate innovation is a vital way that ensures growth and success of firm in near future. The
study rely on overall analysis which is done by using model of creative thinking. Based on
overall discussion, some recommendations are also provided to MatchBox Architects Ltd. which
helps them in enhancing innovation and creativity within firm that provides it competitiveness
and growth in market. It will also assists in increasing productivity as well as profitability of
company. The overall analysis proves to be valuable for firm in terms of organising their plan
accordingly.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
ANALYSIS......................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
RECOMMENDATION...................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Corporate innovation is defined as the profitable execution of creative ideas that delivers
some value to organisation (Corporate Innovation, 2018). Implementation of creativity and
innovation in business processes helps in reducing operational cost and thus, increases
profitability. Entrepreneurship refers to a process of setting up a new venture by taking financial
risk with the hope of earning high profits. Entrepreneurs have the ability to exploit business
opportunities from market and convert their ideas or concepts into valuable products and
services. The present assignment is based on MatchBox Architects Ltd. which provides
professional services to clients. It is a growing design led architectural practice that specialize in
development, extension and alteration of built environment.
This report includes a plan to promote creative thinking for the purpose of enhancing
innovation. Apart from this, it also covers critical analysis of individual critical thinking skills
within organisation as well as evaluation of alternative contemporary perspectives. Based on the
overall analysis, meaningful conclusion and feasible recommendations are given regarding how
to promote creative thinking. The main aim of this research is to promote and enhance innovative
practices within organisation so that high growth and sustainability can be attain. Some main
objectives of this report includes: To develop a plan for promoting creative thinking within
MatchBox Architects Ltd. To analyse individual critical thinking skills by supporting ideas. This
will help organisation in encouraging its manpower to think out of the box as well as administer
them resources and time to explore innovative ideas effectively which in turn results in higher
productivity (Carayannis, Samara and Bakouros, 2015).
ANALYSIS
In current scenario, innovation is become the key element that leads firm towards growth
and success. It often viewed as the implementation of better solutions that meets unarticulated
and new needs of existing market. As per the view point of Goodale, 2011, corporate
entrepreneurship is concerned with promoting creative thinking among employees so that they
enable to perform their duties effectively in MatchBox Architects Ltd. Various evidences are
utilized to recommend that operations analysis contributes in better future of company.
Corporate innovation is identified as the process of executing new innovative opportunities in
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existing business model. This aspect is very crucial for firm as it contributes in its success by
providing competitive edge to it.
As per the view point of Gambatese and Hallowell, 2011, different aspect of corporate
innovation includes how to foster design thinking and creativity in initial phase of idea
generation, how firms can use idea management tools to choose feasible idea for development,
involving managing and commercializing those as intellectual property and how to develop
innovation into capabilities, strategy and culture of company. Proper execution of corporate
innovation within organisation helps MatchBox Architects Ltd. in gaining high competitive
advantage in market. Innovative products and services of firm enables firm to gain reliable
growth and long term sustainability in market.
According to the view point of Trimi and Berbegal-Mirabent, 2012, creativity and
innovation are very essential aspects that delivers high value to an organisation. It provides an
opportunity to firm to distinct itself from rivals that exist in market. Start-ups are considered as
the essential aspect that drives firm to emphasize on some particular areas for generating more
reliable outcomes. Around 75% of new ventures fails to give adequate returns to their investors.
Management and operational leadership are the aspects which assist MatchBox Architects Ltd.
In ensuring that processes are performed effectively on day to day basis.
Significance of creativity and innovation:
Creativity and innovation in organisations have been recognized as a path of success.
Encouraging creativity and exploring entirely unknown and new leads the firm towards
increasing productivity. Providing resources and time to employees and encourage them to think
out of the box to explore innovative and new ideas is the key to effective business solutions. In
MatchBox Architects Ltd., creativity helps in improving the process of problem solving which
provides competitive edge to business.
Barriers to creativity and innovation:
Hard work: Bringing ideas from creation to execution often takes very much time or
effort to produce outcomes. Most of the employees and firms do not want to devote their effort to
complete a project. This will be a barrier to creativity and innovation.
Fear of failure: Fear of looking foolish and being laughed at is the barrier to creative
thinking and innovation. So it is required by an individual to treat failure as valuable feedback as
it is necessary condition and stepping stone towards success.
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Excessive stress: It is very difficult for over stressed person to think creatively as
unwanted stress lowers down the quality of mental processes which can be barrier to innovation
and creative thinking. In order to overcome this stress, it is very essential for MatchBox
Architects Ltd. to conduct various activities within organisation that assists in reducing stress of
employees so that they enable to think creatively.
CPS Process:
It is a simple process that includes breaking down a issue to understand it clearly,
generating innovative ideas for resolving the problem and assess those ideas in order to finding
out the most effective solutions. The creative process which can be utilized by MatchBox
Architects Ltd., for creative problem solving within organisation has 3 steps:
Discuss:
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Effective meetings of team associates are organise and arrange by employer in this step
for defining some issues which convey to next level.
Reviews:
In this, main issues and problems face by MatchBox Architects Ltd. in its business
operations and activities are identified by management. It is divided into various parts which are
defined below:
Customers: Manager of firm requires to examine the need of unique ideas which will
determine customer's perception regarding this.
Third party: Under this, idea must be acquire from external person. There is high
possibility of getting innovative and creative ideas from external sources which can lead to
resolve problem effectively.
Formalise: In this, a shape is provided to ideas before implementing it within
organisation. A culture of introducing constant change within firm have been implemented by
MatchBox Architects Ltd. which helps employees in generating new ideas that provides
opportunities to company.
Developing outputs: It is require by firm to design meetings so that communication can
be improved. This will help organisation in developing outputs from other members regarding
feasibility and viability of idea.
Quality assurance: Here, firm ensures that high quality of products and services are
offered to customers.
Actions:
After developing the ideas to resolve issue of company, manager of each division
requires to take some actions to overcome the problem. Here, developed ideas are implemented
so that issues can be resolved and high growth and sustainability in market can be gained by
MatchBox Architects Ltd.
Architects as qualified professional’s v/s effective and contemporary leadership:
As per the view point of Drucker, 2014, it is evaluated that for leading a well
collaborative group, it is required by architects to perform well to lessen specialize knowledge. It
has been seen that, when architects are more capable and qualified in performing their roles and
responsibilities, firm can yield more profits in upcoming years. Effective and contemporary
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leadership is related with leader member exchange approach in which they both require to
coordinate with one another in order to perform their duties effectively at workplace.
Top-down and bottom-up approach:
These are considered as the effective strategy which is being utilized by organisation for
knowledge ordering and data processing. In top down approach, system is breaking down in
order to gain insights in compositional sub systems (Chen and et. al., 2014). This method helps
MatchBox Architects Ltd. in analysing risk by aggregating influence of intrinsic operational
failures. On the other hand, bottom up approach is a strategy that rely on individual stocks
selection. It evaluates individual risk in system by utilizing mathematical models and is therefore
data intensive.
Creative thinking skills:
As per the view point of Parker, 2012, creative thinking refers to the way in which an
individual looks things differently. It is essential because it assists in looking at situations and
problems from fresh perspective. So, it is the way to create new solutions that do are not entirely
rely on current or past solutions. Creative and innovative ideas provides an advantage to
company over its rivals. Therefore, it is very essential for MatchBox Architects Ltd. to
encourage their employees to think out of the box so that innovation can be bring within
organisation.
Creative thinking is defined as the process that amalgamates rationality and creativity in
order to meet needs and requirements of customers and leads the firm towards success (Kuratko,
Hornsby and Covin, 2014). For MatchBox Architects Ltd., creative thinking is utilized in
following way: Immense knowledge is required in project designing which are available on
internet. Now a days, clients become more peculiar and smarter regarding their requirements. For
quality deliverables, design is considered as the most significant component in architecture
industry. So, in project designing function, application of innovation helps MatchBox Architects
Ltd. in ensuring that they are provided goods and services exactly as per the requirements of
customers. Some innovative techniques such as Building Information Modelling process, CAD
management and other methods can be adopted by company as these assists in ensuring that
designers are well experienced with digital aspects of construction and design. It ensures
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development of attractive and exclusive final blueprint of design that shows exact image of
future project.
Developing innovative and better projects:
Concept of creative and innovative thinking proves to be very beneficial for MatchBox
Architects Ltd. By utilization of innovative approaches, company not only able to develop
distinctive projects, but also assists in creating eco-friendly projects that contributes in
sustainable economic development (Roig-Tierno, Alcazar and Ribeiro-Navarrete, 2015). Green
architecture technology is also adopted by firm in its constructions and project design which
assists them in reducing consumption of energy through cooling systems such as air conditioned
plants. This innovation helps MatchBox Architects Ltd. in gaining competitive advantage over
large number of competitors. It also assists them in attracting large group of customers towards
their goods and services.
Climate for innovation and creativity:
As per the view point of Trimi and Berbegal-Mirabent, 2012, Innovation and creativity
are considered as the core competence factors for MatchBox Architects Ltd. that is utilized by
company in its distinct functional areas. Therefore, by identifying the significance of innovation
in area of operations, firm strives to create and administer supportive as well as collaborative
climate in business operations for bringing creativity and innovation. Below defined are some
areas where company promotes innovation:
Team climate: Crucial role is played by manager of MatchBox Architects Ltd. in
determining innovation and creativity within firm by encouraging manpower to think out of the
box. It assists them in become creative by intellectual stimulating, developing and inspiring
them.
Organisational culture: One of the main determinant of innovation is organisational
culture as it plays major role in promoting creativity within firm. Manager of MatchBox
Architects Ltd. encourage employees to give freely share their ideas and opinions regarding
specific project design. This culture of company increase motivation of employees and enables
them to use their creativity and innovation in their work.
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Way to exploit potential of human resource:
One of the best way to exploit potential of human resource is employee motivation.
Today, motivation of workforce is considered as an essential aspect as it assists in improving
productivity of company (Turró, Urbano and Peris-Ortiz, 2014). Motivated employees enables to
work in more better manner and try to give their best when performing their duties. They feel
satisfied and sense of belongingness is created among them which connects them with the
organisation. So, it is required by manager of MatchBox Architects Ltd. to keep their employees
motivated by providing them recognition and reward, healthy workplace, training etc. so that
their potential and skills can be exploited effectively.
Individual creative thinking skills:
Practice openness: It reflects about motivation of an individual that how much they are
motivated to consider new concepts, experiences and ideas. Creative people are very open. If
people resist new ideas than it means they cannot be creative.
Brain storming: It is a practice in which a group of people get together and generating
ideas. Some rules are included in Brainstorming activity, i.e., everyone having a say, each idea is
being equally valued and no criticism is allowed of other individual's idea.
Creative thinking can be promoted in MatchBox Architects Ltd. by following ways:
 Fostering an environment in which creativity is valued.
 Provide employees with various techniques and tools to come up with innovative and
new ideas.
 Manager is require to ensure that workforce understands the products, services and goals
of company so that they can come up with contextual ideas.
 Develop a collaborative environment that make conversations, generate great ideas and
problem solving. Manager of MatchBox Architects Ltd. requires to recognize and reward great ideas.
Change management:
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Successful change management is essential for every business concern in order to
succeed and survive in existing highly competitive and constantly evolving business
environment. For executing new products, procedures and any other change in organisation, it is
very essential for manager of MBA to understand change. It is the procedure that assures
structure of company involving employees, can manage changes. Change management helps
MatchBox Architects Ltd. in reducing risk that new system or alteration will be rejected by
company. For managing change, following steps needs to be taken:
 Analyse business and identify areas of change.
 Collect information or data on proposed change.
 Present information to executives and managers and encourage input regarding change.
 Introduce change plan.
 Begin training to execute change. Roll out an offline model of change and implement change.
Ways by which innovation and creativity is encouraged across all levels and functions:
Below mentioned are some points that requires to be consider by manager of MatchBox
Architects Ltd. in encouraging their employees so that new ideas can get:
Stress the significance of creativity: It is required by management of MatchBox
Architects Ltd. to aware their manpower about the significance of creativity so that innovation
can be introduced within organisation in effective way.
Administer time for brain storming: Regular workshops must be conducted by
management of MatchBox Architects Ltd. and allow some time to their workforce for activity of
brainstorming so that new ideas can be generated (Breznik and D. Hisrich, 2014).
Provide training to staff on innovation techniques: Management needs to conduct a
proper training session that helps employees in developing its creative thinking which helps in
generating more innovative ideas. Mind mapping, lateral thinking and brainstorming are the
techniques that helps in developing new and innovative ideas.
Solicits ideas: Management is required to provide a suggestion box within firm so that if
individual is hesitate to express their views and ideas in front of others, then they can write their
ideas on paper and drop it in the box so that it can reach to top management.
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Cross fertilize: By observing other successful company and the approaches they used can
be the source of encouraging employees. This will assists them in developing new ideas and
strategies that provides competitive edge to company.
Be supportive: Management of MatchBox Architects Ltd. requires to be supportive with
their workforce so that they get motivate and encourage to share their views, thoughts, ideas and
suggestions with management.
Ways to address problems:
Quality: In order to improve quality of products and services, it is required by
management of MatchBox Architects Ltd. to provide proper training to their workforce
regarding their work (Turró, Urbano and Peris-Ortiz, 2014). This will provides an opportunity to
manpower in terms of developing their skills and knowledge and enables them to perform their
work well. This results in increasing productivity and quality of firm.
Unproductive meetings: A properly planned meeting must be conducted by management
of MatchBox Architects Ltd. in which all the relevant information should provide to employees
regarding their roles and responsibilities so that it can proves to be productive for them (Drucker,
2014).
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that corporate innovation and
entrepreneurship are two essential aspects for organisation as these helps in offering some value
to firm. Corporate innovation is a process of successful execution of ideas which are profitable
and delivers some value to company. For gaining benefits out of it company is required to apply
effective policies and procedures that will motivate its staff to share innovative ideas and
opinions that can provide an edge over its competitors. Research is an amalgamation of
definitions, goals, functions and various models related to innovation that are the work of
different authors and writers. These aspects are thoroughly analysed to identify the impact of
innovation and critical thinking on overall performance. This report provides brief description
about significance of innovation and critical thinking in reference to firm. Further it also analyse
the role of staff and top authority in context to encourage and develop innovative and new ideas
that can help in its growth and success. This research provides synopsis of analysis about
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Architects as qualified professionals in comparison to effective and contemporary leadership that
assists firm to take corrective action for attaining sustainability and growth in this dynamic
environment. Different ways for getting an innovative and distinctive idea is by conducting
research, analysing ideas of successful entrepreneurs etc.
RECOMMENDATION
From the overall analysis, it is observed that innovation and creativity is the crucial
aspect for business organisation in terms of increasing its growth and productivity. So, it is
recommended to MatchBox Architects Ltd. to motivate and encourage employees to think out of
the box so that more innovative ideas can be generated and firm can take best advantage of it.
Manager should also conduct some sessions such as brainstorming, group discussions etc. as
well as some activities that can assists in development of creative thinking of employees. By this,
workforce can able to provide more innovative ideas to company which provides it benefit of
gaining high competitive advantage in market and distinguish themselves from rivals. They
should reward the great ideas of employees so that employees gets motivated and creative
thinking can be promoted within organisation. Firm must also emphasize to invest on Research
and development department so that proper research can be conducted and market needs and
trends can be analysed. This will help MatchBox Architects Ltd. in developing innovative
products and services that completely satisfy needs and requirements of customers. Change is a
dynamic process and it constantly takes place within business environment so, managers are
require to be aware with these changes and respond it effectively. It will help firm in maintaining
its long term sustainability in market.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Breznik, L. and D. Hisrich, R., 2014. Dynamic capabilities vs. innovation capability: are they
related?. Journal of small business and enterprise development. 21(3). pp.368-384.
Carayannis, E. G., Samara, E. T. and Bakouros, Y. L., 2015. Innovation and entrepreneurship:
theory, policy and practice. Springer.
Chen, Y. and et. al., 2014. CEO s’ Transformational Leadership and Product Innovation
Performance: The Roles of Corporate Entrepreneurship and Technology Orientation.
Journal of Product Innovation Management. 31. pp.2-17.
Drucker, P., 2014. Innovation and entrepreneurship. Routledge.
Gambatese, J.A. and Hallowell, M., 2011. Enabling and measuring innovation in the
construction industry. Construction Management and Economics. 29(6). pp.553-567.
Kuratko, D. F., Hornsby, J. S. and Covin, J. G., 2014. Diagnosing a firm's internal environment
for corporate entrepreneurship. Business Horizons. 57(1). pp.37-47.
Parker, S.C., 2012. Theories of entrepreneurship, innovation and the business cycle. Journal of
Economic Surveys. 26(3). pp.377-394.
Roig-Tierno, N., Alcazar, J. and Ribeiro-Navarrete, S., 2015. Use of infrastructures to support
innovative entrepreneurship and business growth. Journal of Business Research. 68(11).
pp.2290-2294.
Trimi, S. and Berbegal-Mirabent, J., 2012. Business model innovation in entrepreneurship.
International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal. 8(4). pp.449-465.
Turró, A., Urbano, D. and Peris-Ortiz, M., 2014. Culture and innovation: The moderating effect
of cultural values on corporate entrepreneurship. Technological Forecasting and Social
Change. 88. pp.360-369.
Online
Goodale, 2011. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000768131400086X>.
Corporate Innovation, 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.edx.org/micromasters/uqx-corporate-innovation>.
Kuratko, Covin and Hornsby, 2014. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000768131400086X>.
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