Innovation and play

Abstract

Play provides a means by which organizations explore, learn and adapt in order to deal with uncertainty. By allowing the freedom to move beyond everyday organizational constraints, play encourages and facilitates innovation. This paper examines the nature of play and its significance. It considers the role of technology, and especially virtuality, and the provision of space and time, for play. It suggests playful organizations can provide a reminder, at a time of growing societal and political introspection and disillusionment, of the value of animating cooperative interactions producing negotiated futures.

Key words:

• Innovation
• play learning
• uncertainty