PIECE Together

Norms regulate and direct behavior in groups, but the role that norms play in the creative process has been controversial. This chapter develops a theoretical perspective in which norms are tools that can be leveraged to facilitate creativity in teams. It begins by identifying a set of five key behaviors that support creative collaboration—the PIECE(s) of team creativity—Participation, Independence, Elaboration, Communication, and Exploration. It then identifies specific norms that can encourage the emergence of each of the five critical behaviors, the conditions that make these norms salient, and the underlying psychological and behavioral mechanisms through which norms impact creativity. It also reviews recent and growing evidence suggesting that strengthening creativity-relevant norms with the threat of overt social sanctions can encourage the emergence of behavior appropriate to the task of being creative and thus facilitate, rather than thwart, creative collaboration. Finally, it concludes with suggestions for future research on norms in creative work groups.