Creativity and Success for All: Investigating the Relationship between Stratification, Workplace Environment and Success

• In Event: 161 - Section on Organizations, Occupation and Work Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 12. Creativity and Strategic Action in the Workplace

Abstract

Creativity is a valued trait in today’s economy. Businesses strive to support creativity in the workplace so employees can design innovative products that boost the company’s ability to be competitive in the global market. But little is known about who has access to these creative workplaces and how creativity impacts personal and not just business success. This study investigates how racial background and educational attainment predict access to creative workplaces and if these creative workplaces are related to individual health, happiness and economic success.
Creative workplace measures are based on Teresa Amabile’s work on creativity and organizational support. Using data from the 2010 General Social Survey (GSS), this study designs a measure of individual perception of workplace environment. The analysis separates and combines creative workplaces and supported workplaces to understand the interactions between these workplace characteristics. Findings indicate that having a bachelor’s degree does increase the likelihood of working in a supported and creative environment, but race is not a significant factor. Creativity is related to individual success, but only when joined with organizational support.

Author

• Jamie M. Carroll, University of Texas-Austin