Managing Creative People

A clash between the ideology of growth and the growth of ideas, between control and creativity, between measurement and the immeasurable, between predictability and the fickle muses of inspiration in engulfing our boardrooms. In this scathing swipe at the institutionalised idiocy that is stifling creativity just at the time the world needs it most Gordon Torr draws from the leading lights of creativity research to demolish the myths that surround the generation of ideas in the modern organisation. The curse of the brainstorm, the commoditisation of creative talent, the deskilling of the imagination, the startling inadequacies of management theory these and the many other horrors of idea-assassination that run rampant in creative sector companies are dissected and disembowelled in this hilarious expose of the drama that unfolds every time a new idea slides across the boardroom table. This book sets out to address the black hole that surrounds the management of creative people, debunking many myths of creativity, and outlining a revolutionary approach to the pressing issue of creative productivity in the contemporary creative sector company. A handbook of tools, techniques, methods and practical ideas whose USP is a framework for thinking about efficient creative management how to extract value from creative time. Gordon Torr presents a logical argument that puts in place the building blocks of the author s knowledge and experience towards the final architecture. We need them as never before. And we know that they re somehow different. Yet the productive management of creative people is an almost totally neglected science. I doubt if there s a single industry that wouldn t gain immediate advantage from Gordon Torr s scrupulous and enlightening detective work. - Jeremy Bullmore

A clash between the ideology of growth and the growth of ideasbetween control and creativity, between measurement and theimmeasurable, between predictability and the fickle muses ofinspiration in engulfing our boardrooms.In this scathing swipe at the institutionalised idiocy that isstifling creativity just at the time the world needs it most GordonTorr draws from the leading lights of creativity research todemolish the myths that surround the generation of ideas in themodern organisation.The curse of the brainstorm, the commoditisation of creativetalent, the deskilling of the imagination, the startlinginadequacies of management theory - these and the many otherhorrors of idea-assassination that run rampant in creative sectorcompanies are dissected and disembowelled in this hilarious exposeof the drama that unfolds every time a new idea slides across theboardroom table.This book sets out to address the black hole that surrounds themanagement of creative people, debunking many myths of creativityand outlining a revolutionary approach to the pressing issue ofcreative productivity in the contemporary creative sectorcompany.A handbook of tools, techniques, methods and practical ideaswhose USP is a framework for thinking about efficient creativemanagement - how to extract value from creative time.Gordon Torr presents a logical argument that puts in place thebuilding blocks of the author's knowledge and experiencetowards the final architecture."We need them as never before. And we know thatthey're somehow different. Yet the productivemanagement of creative people is an almost totally neglectedscience. I doubt if there's a single industry thatwouldn't gain immediate advantage from Gordon Torr'sscrupulous and enlightening detective work." Jeremy Bullmore

Preface.Acknowledgements.I: THE CREATIVE INDIVIDUAL.1. The Day the World Ran out of Ideas.2. The Problem with Creative People.3. Two Guys in a Garage.4. 21st Century Snake-Oil.5. The Biology of Inspiration.6. The Creative Personality.7. The Survival of the Weirdest.8. Towards a Formula for Genius.9. The Barbel and the Breadboard.II: THE CREATIVE ORGANIZATION.Introduction to Part II.10. The Muse's Ransom.11. Poison in the Water-Cooler.12. Podsnaps and Ponytails.13. Structures and Strictures.14. Place Matters.15. The Road to Exit Five.16. The Maze.17. The Guardians of the Maze.18. The New Patronage.Bibliography.Further Reading List.Index.