The Role of Thinking Style and Innovative Intentions for Optimal Creativity and Innovation in Organizations

This study represents the confluence of two research streams under the organizational change rubric: linear/nonlinear thinking style-that is the notion that people tend to be either linear, nonlinear or balanced thinkers-and innovative intentions and resulting behaviors in organizations. It was hypothesized that a balanced linear/nonlinear thinking style and the inclination towards more innovative intentions and resulting behaviors in organizations are strongly related. The results of an analysis of four French and American business course student populations (n = 73) found a significant relationship in the predicted direction between balanced linear/nonlinear thinking style and innovative intention measures. A second wave of data collection involved six sections of graduate project management classes with a majority of engineering students. The results of the combined sample (n=124) mirrored the first wave results. Balanced thinking style and occupation-free measures of innovative intentions were significantly related. Important implications of the results are discussed for cross-functional innovative teams and directions for future work.