Creativity in your own company

The American business author Gary Hamel suggests the following test for companies that claim to care about the creativity of their employees [also applies to schools, associations, institutions]:

Five „simple“ questions that pack a punch... Off we go to the employees on the factory floor, in the offices, at the desks:

1. have you been trained to be creative?
2. can you realise your ideas unhindered by bureaucracy?
3. do you get time, money and resources for your ideas?
4. are your ideas of interest to anyone in the organisation?
5. do you get any recognition for your ideas?

If the answer is „yes“ less than three times, it should be pretty clear that the topic of „unleashing the creative potential of all employees“ in the company in question is limited to speeches and company brochures. [Source: Only the dead remain, S. 176]

With regard to my publishing house, I would answer at least questions 2, 4 and 5 with „yes“, and 3 in part as well. And I hope that my employees see it the same way.