Assessing job candidates' creativity: propositions and future research directions

Assessing job candidates’ creativity: propositions and future research directions

Malakate A., Andriopoulos C., Gotsi M. Creativity and Innovation Management (UK), September 2007, Vol. 16 No. 3, Start page: 307, No. of pages: 10

Purpose – Discusses how the creative potential of job candidates can be assessed during selection. Design/methodology/approach – Reviews the traits and cognitive processes that have been identified as being associated with creative individuals. Also considers what is distinctive about creative individuals’ outputs and communications skills. Based on this, sets out a series of propositions concerning the ways in which the potential creativity of an individual can be assessed. Findings – Concludes that the criteria on which to judge the potential creativity of individuals are their willingness to take risks, self-confidence, tolerance of ambiguity, need for achievement,autonomy, mental flexibility, ability to make remote associations, ability to suspend their judgment, originality of their ideas, intrinsic motivation and their collective orientation when problem-solving. In relation to their output,suggests that novelty and domain-relevant knowledge are the criteria to look at;in relation to the creative process, divergent and innovative thinking; and in relation to the creative environment, general knowledge and persuasiveness. Research limitations/implications – Sets out a series of propositions concerning the nature of these criteria and how they contribute to creativity. Originality/value – Develops the basis of a method for assessing creative potential.ISSN: 0963-1690Reference: 36AY914

Keywords: Creativity, Personality, Communications skills, Assessment,Selection