Assessment Statement
“Creative and Divergent Thinking as part of planning processes is encouraged and valued by the business unit’s leadership.”
Interpretation
This diagnostic item explores the extent to which creative and divergent thinking are encouraged and valued within the organization’s planning processes. It focuses on the cultural and leadership norms that allow bold, outside-the-box ideas to surface, evolve, and shape strategic direction.
Key concepts include:
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Creativity: The ability to generate novel ideas, solutions, and approaches.
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Divergence: Willingness to explore multiple perspectives and challenge assumptions.
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Leadership Support: Whether these behaviors are actively supported, not just tolerated.
Example: Google’s “20% Time” Policy, Score: 5 – Strongly Agree
Google institutionalized divergent thinking through its renowned “20% Time” policy; empowering employees to spend one day per week on passion projects outside their core responsibilities. The 20% Time policy led to flagship innovations like Google News and AdSense, demonstrating how leaders actively champion creativity during planning and execution phases.