Examining the Relationship Between Creativity and Innovation: A Meta-Analysis

Hessam Sarooghi, Dirk P Libaers, Andrew C Burkemper

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePresentation

    Abstract

    It is generally believed that creativity enhances innovative activities. However, empirical research regarding the impact of creativity on innovation has produced a wide range of results. In this study, we conduct a meta-analysis of 51 empirical samples comprising 10,347 observations to test the nature of this relationship, particularly how organizational, environmental, and cultural factors moderate the creativity-innovation link. We find a strong positive relationship between creativity and innovation, particularly at the individual level. In addition, we find intriguing moderating effects in which large firms, process innovations, and low-tech industries have stronger effects on the creativity-innovation relationship than small firms, product innovations, and high-tech industries. Further, we find full support that moderate levels of power distance and partial support that moderate levels of uncertainty avoidance and collectivism maximize the correlation between creativity and innovation. We conclude by discussing theoretical and managerial implications and offering suggestions for future research in the entrepreneurship and innovation literature.
    Original languageAmerican English
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Aug 2014
    Event74th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management - Philadelphia, PA
    Duration: Aug 1 2014 → …

    Conference

    Conference74th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management
    Period8/1/14 → …

    Keywords

    • creativity
    • innovation
    • meta-analysis

    Disciplines

    • Business
    • Business Administration, Management, and Operations
    • Other Business

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