Disney Creativity and Innovation Course

Contact: College Program Education Suite #703, Vista Way P.O. Box 10000 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Tel: (407) 827-1244 Fax: (407) 560-8899

Disney Creativity And Innovation: Gaining the Edge Course (44 contact hours) Credit Recommendation: This course is currently in development and has not yet been reviewed by the American Council on Education. The Disney Creativity and Innovation: Gaining the Edge Course combines theory and experiential assignments to introduce students to the main concepts of creativity and innovation. It will explore their crucial importance to individuals, organizations, and the entrepreneurial process. Students will learn various tools to promote creativity within themselves and others, processes to increase innovation, how to contribute to a creative team, how to manage creativity, and how to establish a culture of creativity within an organization. As a result, students should have greater understanding of and appreciation for the creative/innovative processes and be better able to harness and direct those forces for themselves and others. This course prepares students to contribute in a unique and productive way to todays entrepreneurial and organizational demands. Learning Objectives After completing this course, the students should be able to: Differentiate between the creative person, process, product and environment. Explain the key aspects of the innovative process. Define the aspects of the intersection and its importance in innovation. Validate why creativity and innovation are important for entrepreneurial and corporate growth. Assess creative development and prescribe a plan of action to enhance the ability to think more creatively and foster innovation. Apply four primary tools for encouraging individual and group creativity. List major barriers to managing creativity and innovation. List primary management techniques to facilitate creativity and innovation. Specify ways an organization can encourage and discourage a culture of creativity and innovation. Explain the primary dimensions of the 7 Levels of Change. Course Requirements Attendance: Attendance is required for all of the Disney College Program Creativity and Innovation: Gaining the Edge Course classes. This is an interactive course that requires each student's full involvement. All students will be allowed two absences (student does not need to call instructor). On the third absence the student will automatically be dropped from the course. . Any absences will affect the students final grade and students will be accountable for all material and assignments covered in that class.

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Required Textbook and Materials: Textbook (to be purchased prior to class) Smith, Rolf (2007). The Seven Levels of Change. Reading, Pennsylvania: Tapestry Press. Materials (covered by course fee) Team Dimensions Profile v. 3.0.1 (1995). Minneapolis, Minnesota: Inscape Publishing. Suggested Readings: Creativity and Innovation (Theory and Development) Ayan, Jordan (1999). Ignite Your Creative Spark: 20 Ways to Fire Up Your Imagination: Successories Library. Bennis, Warren and Biederman, Patricia Ward (1997). Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration. Los Angeles, California: Perseus Books. Cameron, Julia (1996). The Vein of Gold A Journey to Your Creative Heart: G.P. Putnam's Sons. Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (1996). Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. New York, New York: Harper Collins. Edward De Bono (1973). Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step: Harper Paperbacks. DePorter, Bobbi (2000). Quantum Thinking: Creative Thinking, Planning and Problem Solving: Learning Forum. Disney Imagineers (2005). The Imagineering Workout. New York, New York: Disney Editions. Dundon, Elaine (2002). The Seeds of Innovation: Cultivating the Synergy that Fosters New Ideas: Amacom. Gardner, Howard (1993). Creating Minds: Basic Books. Garwood, Tricia and Hajcak, Frank (1993). Expanding Creative Imagination. West Chester, Pennsylvania: Human Potential Press. Gelb, Michael (2000). How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci: 7 Steps To Everyday Genius: Dell. Hahn, Don (1999). Dancing Corn Dogs in the Night: Reawakening Your Creative Spirit: Disney Editions. Amabile, T., Ferdinand, P., Leonard, D., Morley, E., Rayport, J., Silver, A. and Wetlaufer, S. (1999). Harvard Business Review on Breakthrough Thinking. Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Press. Harvard Business School Press (2006). Creating Breakthrough Innovations. Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. Johansson, Frans (2006). The Medici Effect. Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Press. Nadler, Gerald (1998). Breakthrough Thinking: The 7 Principles of Creative Problem Solving: Prima Lifestyles. The Imagineers (2003). The Imagineering Way: Ideas to Ignite Your Creativity. New York, New York: Disney Editions. Vance, Mike & Deacon, Diane (1999). Raise the Bar: Creative Strategies to Take Your Business & Personal Life to the Next Level: Career Press. Von Oech, Roger (1984). A Whack on the Side of the Head. New York, New York: Harper and Row. Von Oech, Roger (1986). A Kick in the Seat of the Pants. New York, New York: Harper and Row. Wujec, Tom (1995). 5 Star Mind: Games and Exercises to Stimulate Your Creativity and Imagination: Main Street Books.

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Creativity and Innovation (Business Application) Boldt, Laurence G. (1999). Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide To Creative Career Design: Penguin (Non-Classics). Carkhuff, Robert R. (1989). Empowering the Creative Leader in the Age of New Capitalism: Human Resource Development Press. Fallon, Pat (2006). Juicing the Orange: Lessons in Using Creativity as a Competitive Marketing Advantage: Harvard Business School Press. Gaynor, Gerard H. (2002). Innovation by Design: What it Takes to Keep Your Company on the Cutting Edge: Amacom. Goman, Carol Kinsey (1989). Creativity in Business: A Practical Guide for Creative Thinking: Crisp Publications. Gryskiewicz, Stanley S. (1999). Positive Turbulence: Developing Climates for Creativity, Innovation and Renewal: Jossey-Bass. Hemsath, Dave (1997). 301 Ways to Have Fun at Work: Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Hesselbein, Francis, Goldsmith, Marshal and Iain Somerville (eds.) (2001). Leading for Innovation: And Organizing for Results: Jossey-Bass. Higgins, James (2005). 101 Creative Problem Solving Techniques: The Handbook Of New Ideas for Business: New Management Pub. Co. Leonard-Barton, Dorothy and Swap, Walter C. (2005). When Sparks Fly: Harnessing the Power of Group Creativity. Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Press. Lundin, Stephen C. (2000). Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale: Hyperion. McCormick, Blaine (2001). At Work with Thomas Edison: 10 Business Lessons From Americas Greatest Innovator: Entrepreneur Press. Pike, Robert (1998). 50 Creative Training Closers: Pfeiffer. Schmitt, Bernd & Brown, Laura (2001). Build Your Own Garage: Blueprints and Tools to Unleash Your Companys Hidden Creativity: The Free Press. Sutton, Bob I. (2002). Weird Ideas that Work: How to Build a Creative Company. New York, New York: Simon and Schuster. Course Assignments: Complete specific weekly assignments which support the class content and help make a transition to the next weeks content. Specific weekly assignments are described below: Due Module 3: Interviewing the Creative/Innovative individualSelect an individual you feel is (or was) very creative and/or innovative. Read a biography/autobiography or other research of this individual and write a one-page imaginary interview highlighting the nature of his or her creative process, personal characteristics, key contributions and the overall environmental factors which influenced this individuals creativity. Be prepared to give a two-minute summary highlighting your discoveries to the class. Questions should cover: 1. What about your environment enabled you to be so creative? 2. Please describe how your mind works. 3. What personal characteristics contribute to your creativity? 4. What barriers did you have to overcome? 5. What are you most proud of? 6. What is your best piece of advice in encouraging others to be more creative? Due Module 3: Read an article about whether Steve Jobs is innovative, creative or both. Be prepared to discuss. (http://www/fastcompany.com/magazine/78/jobs.html) As a supplement, consider visiting the Apple Store at the Florida Mall.
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Due Module 5: Create a personal kaleidoscope for your successes to this point in your life. How do you want it to look 10 years from now? How can you get there from here? How will you use creative thinking to achieve your goal? Due Module 6: Create a mind map that captures your working style for something youre currently dealing with in your life. Due Module 8: Create a personal failure resume. Capture all your biggest mistakespersonal, professional and academic. Continue to add to your failure resume. Below each failure, describe what you learned from the associated mistakes. Due Module 8: Complete Rules of Engagement sheets (handwritten) from Observation Lab plus group photos and prepare brief report out on Observation Lab and new retail concept. Due Module 10: List 612 of your own experiences regarding structural obstacles to innovation and/or creativity in organizations with which youve been involved. Include family, school, church, businesses, the military, etc. Describe the obstacles and their effects. Below each description of the obstacle, list your recommendations for alternatives. One test administered week eight, covering: theories, primary elements, and the main organizational tools of creativity and innovation Content and design of Creativity and Innovation: Gaining the Edge Journal (Handed in Week Ten) Class participation Final group presentation

Grading Policy: Creativity and Innovation Journal .............................20% Weekly Assignments ................................................25% Exam ........................................................................20% Group Presentation...................................................10% Attendance ...............................................................10% Class Participation ....................................................15% The Disney Creativity and Innovation Course is a pass/fail course. In order to earn a passing grade, you must receive an overall score of 70% or better.

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Class Meeting Module 1: Nature of Creativity: Person, Process, Product and Environment (4 hours)

Module 2: Nature of Innovation: Making the Idea a Reality (4 hours)

Enabling Objectives Recognize characteristics of creative individuals. Explain the key elements of the creative thought process. Differentiate between creative and logical thought. Identify methods for increasing creative flow. Recognize obstacles to creativity. Explain how 7 Levels of Change relates to creativity and innovation. Differentiate the key elements of Level 1 and 2 thinking: Effective and Efficient. Differentiate between creativity and innovation. Identify thought processes that help businesses innovate. Differentiate truths from myths about innovation. Recognize the benefits of ambidextrous innovation and cross-pollination of ideas. Differentiate examples of exploratory and concentrated thinking. Identify key components of innovation. Classify innovations by innovation type. Apply the innovation process to social, environmental, and political issues. Recognize the importance and impact of creativity and innovation on a variety of industries. Describe models of creative problem solving. Apply divergent and convergent thinking to identify innovative opportunities in current world trends.

Assignments to be Completed Prior to Class None

Read Ch. 1-2 in 7 Levels of Change, Effectiveness and Efficiency. Create journal entries (continuous).

Module 3: Need for Creativity and Innovation in Organizations (4 hours)

Interview assignment: Interviewing the Creative/Innovativewrite a one page imaginary interview and be prepared to give a two-minute summary highlighting your discoveries to the class. (typed) Read an article about whether Steve Jobs is innovative or creative: http://www/fastcompany.co m/magazine/78/jobs.html. As a supplement, consider visiting the Apple Store at the Florida Mall. Read Ch. 3 in text, Improving. Journal entries (continuous)

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Class Meeting Module 4: Assessing Your Personal Creativity and Ability to Innovate (4 hours)

Enabling Objectives Describe the primary elements of Level 4 change. List strengths and limitations of the primary methods of assessing creativity. Assess areas of creative strength and areas for growth. Identify methods for increasing risk-taking behavior. Describe methods for dealing with failure. Identify and compare the benefits of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Identify key elements of Level 5 thinking: Copying. Recognize how emotions influence creative flow. Explain and use a variety of creative thought enhancing tools. Apply creative thought enhancing tools to current world problems. Identify the benefits of building a personal creative arsenal. Identify key elements of Level 6 thinking: Different. Explain how the intersection is an opportunity for innovation. Differentiate directional and intersectional ideas. Identify and discuss methods to overcome barriers to innovation. Combine multiple concepts using Johanssons methods from The Medici Effect. Use diagnostic tests to prioritize the development of multiple innovations. Recognize the benefits of acknowledging and overcoming personal and organizational fears and failures.

Assignments to be Completed Prior to Class Read Ch. 4-5 in text, Transitioning to Level 4 and Level 4-Cutting. Groups select teams for their Experiential Group Work Week 7 and Final Groups Week 11 (completed prior to leaving class). Journal entries (continuous) Read Ch. 6 in text, Level 5Copying. Create a personal kaleidoscope for your successes to this point in your life. Journal entries (continuous)

Module 5: Enhancing Your Creative and Innovative Abilities (4 hours)

Module 6: Entrepreneurial Tools for Creativity and InnovationExploring the Intersection (4 hours)

Create a mind map that captures your working style and approach to something you are currently dealing with. Read Ch. 7-8 in text Transitioning to Level 6 and Level 6-Different... Journal entries (continuous)

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Class Meeting Module 7: Observation Lab (4 hours)

Enabling Objectives List applications of Creativity and Innovation witnessed in various stores. Identify areas of additional opportunity in each of the stores. Compare and contrast approaches, displays, merchandise and service among the stores. Rank the stores from most to least creative/innovative overall. Compare the experience between the formally and informally dressed Cast Members. Combine elements of two stores to create a new merchandise location. Identify primary concepts of Level 7 change. Define the five primary roles people play on innovative teams. Describe your primary personal approach to thinking and behaving on a creative team. Recognize the difference between sheer conflict and creative abrasion. Report on benefits and challenges in maintaining creative teams.

Assignments to be Completed Prior to Class Complete the Observation Lab. Journal entries (continuous)

Module 8: Developing and Contributing to a Creative-Innovation Team (4 hours)

Failure resume: Continue to add to your failure resume. Below each failure, describe what you learned from the associated mistakes. (handwritten) Read Ch.9 in text Level 7-Impossible. Journal entries (continuous) Prepare for exam. Complete Rules of Engagement sheets from Observation Lab (handwritten) plus group photos. Prepare brief report out on Observation Lab and new retail concept. Read Text Ch. 11, Getting Ready for ChangeIndividuals. Journal entries (continuous) Prepare for final presentation.

Module 9: Managing for Creativity and Innovation (4 hours)

Identify personality functions and attitudes that impact a persons level of resistance or acceptance of change. Define the primary ways a leader discourages and inhibits creativity and innovation. Weigh the impact of time and pressure on a persons ability to be creative and innovative. Define the primary ways a leader encourages creativity and innovation. Describe methods for sustaining motivation.

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Class Meeting Module 10: Evolving a Culture of Creativity and Innovation in Organizations (4 hours)

Module 11: Group Presentations (4 hours)

Enabling Objectives Describe the key components of a creative culture. Differentiate the roles of each of the aspects of the organizational structure (hiring/recruitment, recognition/ incentives, managerial/decision making and internal communication), in supporting the creative and innovative culture. Examine the unique challenges of sustaining creativity and innovation in an established organization. Discuss ways entrepreneurs can maintain their creativity. Apply all the creativity and innovation lessons from former modules.

Assignments to be Completed Prior to Class Prepare for the final presentation. List 6 12 of your own experiences regarding structural obstacles to innovation and/or creativity in organizations youve been involved with. (typed) Turn in completed journal.

Deliver group presentation including PowerPoint and handouts.

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