Enhancing creativity and imagination in process-combinative use of systems methods and knowledge management

Abstract

Managing processes like innovations, collective learning, technology roadmapping and knowledge-creating process in an organization often meet the most difficult task: how to enhance creativity and imagination that are required for future planning among the participants who are involved in complex, unpredictable and diverse situations. In This work, we introduce an approach recently developed in systems science and knowledge management in coping with complex, transient and diversity contexts. At the methodological dimension, the latest findings from researches suggest the combinative use of different methodologies developed in different disciplines and the maximization of creativity and totality. Studies also call for paying attentions to those linkages between each part in process management in a creative way. We provide a review on recent development in different methodologies, methods, techniques, and tools in the area of systems thinking, and then concentrate on using creative holism in process management. This new strand of systems methodology emphasizes pluralism and critical systems thinking: it requires practitioners to encourage creativity not only from management but also from methodologies; it promotes using different methodologies in combination according to certain systematic principles. The knowledge-creating concept developed by Nonaka and Takeuchi then is considered as generating explicit and tacit knowledge conversion cycle, that in turn bring forth new ideas and concepts through organizational learning process. Finally, we put the two strands of methodology and thinking together. We aim at providing a supportive thinking and mechanism for process management that requires more creative, diverse and flexible means to cope with complex, and technology emerging and converging environments.