Ideawork

In Idea Work the main questions are:

1. How do practices for idea work look like when at its best?
2. What can we learn when comparing practices for extraordinary idea work across all partners in Idea Work?
3. How can we support and/or accelerate processes of idea work?

We want to understand and professionalise the collective idea work in Norwegian companies and challenge the unproductive myths about creativity. We do this together with leading companies like Statoil, Snøhetta, Point Carbon, Thommessen and Sparebank 1 Alliansen. Over a period of 3,5 years these companies will further develop their own practice for idea work, learn from each other’s experiences and contribute with research-based insight and new methods, in cooperation with SINTEF Technology and Society.

The concept of ‘Drivers’ sums up our main findings. So far we have identified 10 families of drivers. Read a summary of them in Norwegian and English.

Or visit each of the drivers own site:

Zooming Out

Generative Resistance

Rapid Prototyping

Liberating Laughter

Craving Wonder

Getting Physical

Fueling the Fire: Courage

Prep Work

Trusting Presence

Punk Production

On this website you will also find everything from methods for improve idea work practices, the Creative driver fortune teller, giving you a taste of what drives extraordinary idea work, to Idea Assist; providing you with practices for informal collegial support in idea work, and the best ways to kill and unleash creativity.

Are you interested in more information? Contact us!

See also

• Research approach
• Some of the questions we pursue
• Idea work – What’s that?
• Why is Idea Work important?
• How to Unleash/Kill Creativity

In this book, over 40 new and seasoned scholars from all over the world are contributing short stories of moments in their research practice that brought a sense of aliveness, energy, transition, breakthrough or opening up. The stories cover the full arc of the research process, from initial idea conception to publication and other forms of interaction with users of research. The book provide readers with insights about the micro-moments that compose the doing of qualitative research, that are typically invisible, not discussed and yet are wellsprings of motivation and insight.

The drivers of qualitative research resemble those of extraordinary idea work in practie firms (link til de generiske driverne), for example in terms of the importance of seeing with new eyes, preparing and perspective-taking, playing with artifacts, the relational aspects of creation, embracing a sense of wonder and the daring to face the unknown.

See table of contents and read the introduction chapter:

Carlsen, A. and Dutton, J. (eds.) 2011. Research Alive. Exploring Generative Moments in Doing Qualitative Research. Copenhagen Business School Press

Buy the book here.