BE492-7-SP-CO:
Leading Creativity and Innovation
2026/27
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 18 January 2027
Thursday 25 March 2027
20
14 April 2026
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MSC N21712 Organisational Change Management,
MSC N21724 Organisational Change Management
The module is designed to encourage students to experience, think about and reflect upon the nature of creativity and innovation within organisations.
Accordingly, the module invites students to consider a wide range of aspects related to the interconnected areas of collective creativity and collaborative innovation, and offers an advanced understanding of organisational change in contexts where creativity and innovation emerge as a key challenge or a strategic necessity. Specific attention is given to the role of leadership in shaping and sustaining such creative and innovative efforts.
Throughout the module, students explore major theoretical approaches and practices related to creativity, collective creativity, creative leadership and collaborative innovation. Key theories are examined and used as interpretative lenses to deepen students’ understanding of business cases of leading and enhancing creativity and innovation. This theoretical background also supports the development of activities and exercises that together form a toolkit for leading creativity and innovation, particularly in relation to plural and collective forms.
The aims of this module are:
- To understand and appreciate a range of theories on creativity, collective creativity and innovation.
- To enable students to critically evaluate the impact of these theories in terms of leading and managing change.
- To explore the leadership challenges associated with developing creativity and innovation.
- To identify key factors that influence creative processes within teams and organisations.
- To enable students to critically evaluate the most common practices around creativity and innovation.
By the end of this module students will be expected to be able to:
- Understand a wide range of theories and perspectives on creativity, collective creativity and innovation.
- Evaluate the impact of creativity and innovation on organisational change and development.
- Understand various leadership styles that support and enhance creativity.
- Identify and analyse in depth the key factors that influence creative processes.
- Critically reflect on the key debates on leading creativity and innovation.
Indicative Syllabus Content
Introduction to Creativity and the Creative Process (two sessions): We will introduce the module programme and the interrelated concepts of creativity and innovation. We will provide an overview of these areas and discuss why creativity and innovation are vital for any organisation. We will start by defining creativity, understanding the key features of the creative process, and exploring some creative techniques.
Collective Creativity in Organisations – From Individual to Collective and Organisational Creativity (two sessions): We will focus on creativity within organisations. We will explore the different levels of analysis related to creativity, moving from the traditional focus on individual creativity towards the more impactful team, organisational, and collective-based creativity. This session will discuss the managerial implications of promoting collective creativity in organisations.
Creative Leadership (two sessions): We will examine the role of leadership in fostering creativity. We will discuss how different leaders can create an environment that encourages creativity in various ways. Particular attention will be given to the challenges leaders face when balancing creativity with organisational constraints, and to strategies for developing creative leadership capabilities.
Introduction to Innovation and Innovation Management (two sessions): We will view innovation as the introduction of anything new in the market or in the environment in which an organisation operates. We will consider different models of innovation, approaches to organising for innovation, and managerial practices. We will also discuss the challenges of innovation and innovation management.
Collaborative Forms of Innovation (two sessions): We will explore collaborative innovation, open innovation, and design-driven innovation. We will consider how organisations can leverage different actors, networks, and user involvement to co-create innovation. Different models and approaches to organising for innovation will be discussed. We will explore the concept of design-driven innovation to understand how design thinking can inspire breakthrough ideas and solutions.
This module will be delivered via teaching sessions combining lectures with in-depth group discussions, exercises, and activities.
The sessions will be taught in pairs, with two sessions delivered on the same day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). Each pair of sessions will cover interrelated topics, allowing for a back-to-back structure that supports continuity and deeper understanding.
We will utilise videos and interactive exercises. Group discussions will centre on the critical evaluation of relevant case studies, reflection on group work, role play, and other interactive formats. Students will also be asked to deliver reports and presentations.
Students will be expected to prepare pre-assigned readings ahead of the sessions.
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Tucker, D., Cirella, S. and Kelly, P. (2024)
Organizational change management: inclusion, collaboration and digital change in practice. London: Sage. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2533059.
-
Richard W. Woodman; John E. Sawyer; Ricky W. Griffin (1993) 'Toward a Theory of Organizational Creativity',
The Academy of Management Review, 18(2), pp. 293–321. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/258761.
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Cirella, S. (2021) 'Managing collective creativity: Organizational variables to support creative teamwork',
European Management Review, 18(4), pp. 404–417. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/emre.12475.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Report |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Essay |
|
70% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Stefano Cirella, email: scirella@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Stefano Cirella
ebshrm@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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