Creativity software and DSS: Cautionary findings

doi:10.1016/0378-7206(92)90049-L

Information & Management

Volume 23, Issue 1, July 1992, Pages 1-6

https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-7206(92)90049-L Get rights and content

Abstract

Contrary to expectations, a study of creativity enhancing software showed that user creativity declined when using the software on an analysis task. Software increased the number of alternatives, but independent judges determined that these were less original or inventive than those produced without the software. These findings were consistent for both ‘highly creative’ and ‘less creative’ groups. Computer technology is an added variable that can interact to inhibit creativity in a moderately complex case analysis task. Creativity inducing software appears to need further development before it can contribute meaningfully to improving decision support systems.

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Second, in addition to the “can't assess” option, we also asked evaluators explicitly to rate the clarity of each research question (“How clear is it to you what this question seeks to examine?” ; 1 = “not at all” to 5 = “fully clear”) (Durand and VanHuss, 1992). To ensure greater reliability of the quality ratings, we recoded quality ratings as missing if an evaluator indicated that a question was “not at all” clear.20
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^∗: Currently Department Head and Professor, Computer Information Systems, 359 Glass Hall, College of Business Administration, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65804-0094, USA.

¹: Douglas E. Durand is Department Head and Professor of Computer Information Systems in the College of Business Administration at Southwest Missouri State University. Dr. Durand received his B.A. degree from Westminster College; his M.B.A. and Ph.D. degrees were received from Washington University, St. Louis. He has authored numerous articles on information system and human resource effectiveness in such journals as Information and Management, Decision Sciences, Academy of Management Journal, and Organization Dynamics. Dr. Durand has had widespread consulting experience working with such firms as IBM, Monsanto, John Wiley Publishing Company, and Emerson Electric. His research interests include global information systems, communication support systems, technological enhancement of managerial productivity, and management of information systems.

²: Susie H. VanHuss is a Professor and Program Director of Management in the College of Business Administration at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. She received both her MBA and her Ph.D. degrees from Indiana University. Her teaching specialties are communications and administrative office systems. Her primary focus has been on integrating communications in the MBA program and serving as a communications consultant for all MBA field study projects. Dr. VanHuss' fields of interest are computer-based assessment, communications, using technology to enhance communication customer service, and administrative office systems. She has written seven textbooks, all of which are published by South-Western Publishing Company. She does extensive consulting and industry training. Her programs have been presented in 47 states, six provinces of Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Germany.

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ResearchCreativity software and DSS: Cautionary findings

Abstract

Information & Management

Information & Management

The Social Psychology of Creativity

Effects of Extended Effort in Creative Problem Solving

Journal of Educational Psychology

Usefulness of the Ideation Principle of Extended Effort in Real World Professional and Managerial Creative Problem Solving

Journal of Creative Behavior

Can Software Influence Creativity?

Information Systems Research

Creative Thinking and Innovative Education in the Decision Sciences

Decision Science

Creative Learning in Perspective

Research
Creativity software and DSS: Cautionary findings