Critical creativity: managing creativity as a strategic resource in media organisations

ABSTRACT

This article addresses the critical role of creativity as a core resource in media work. Drawing on an empirical analysis, the study produces a new understanding about the significance of creativity in media organisations and their management. It identifies three critical aspects of creativity, i.e. co-operation willingness, experimental atmosphere and supportive practices, and discusses three corresponding managerial focus areas. Thus, this article offers both theoretical contributions in relation to critical creativity in media work and practical implications for managing creativity as a strategic resource in media organisations.

KEYWORDS:

• Creativity
• media organisation
• media management
• strategic resources
• media work

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The research was funded by the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation.

Notes on contributors

Nando Malmelin

Nando Malmelin is a Professor of Practice at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland.

Sari Virta

Sari Virta (PhD) is a Lecturer at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland, and an affiliated researcher at Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School (Media, Management and Transformation Center), Sweden.