Cultivating Innovative Thinking: A Literature Review

Stacy McCracken () and Darlene Russ-Eft ()
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Stacy McCracken: Purdue University
Darlene Russ-Eft: Purdue University

A chapter in Intangibles in the Knowledge Economy, 2025, pp 1-12 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Today's leaders manage sophisticated global value chains, navigate rapid technology shifts, strategize to stay ahead of competitors, and thwart attacks from cyber criminals while keeping their diverse, aging workforce engaged and innovating. Creativity and innovation result from people's work and are now business assets paramount in the change process. Understanding how to foster these skills in working professionals has implications for education, business, and governments around the world. The research involved an integrative literature review that begins with the development of a concept map based on preliminary research scanning. This map depicts how skills required for working professionals in the twenty-first century are tied to individual employability and organizational success. This review provides an overview of the relevant literature, as well as a theoretical framework and preliminary conceptual map to explore the development of innovative thinking. Researchers can benefit from this review as it will take a fresh look at existing research across domains and seek new insights to spark new opportunities for further study. Practitioners will benefit from a consolidated summary of research that can inform learning development, career planning, and management development strategies to support innovative thinking skills in their workforce. The challenge of fostering innovative thinking in an entire workforce undoubtedly keeps organizational leaders in global business awake at night. With people at the heart of innovation, understanding how innovative thinking in individuals can be sparked, nurtured, amplified, and taught offers organizations the opportunity to unlock untapped resources for innovation.

Keywords: Creativity; Innovation; Innovative thinking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-86660-9_1

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