A Creative University: Is It Possible?

This essay examines the importance of university organization to its creative capacity, in particular how the research policies and organizational structure affect the creative capability of scientists. The argument opens by exploring possible measures of institutional success and creativity. There follows a discussion of creativity and insight in the social sciences. Some have argued that in the social sciences it is not possible to make discoveries. The essay argues to the contrary citing examples of social scientists' moments of creative insight. A further discussion looks at the place of the social sciences in the Swedish university. The nature of creativity is explored through psychological research on creativity and scientists. This section ends by noting that external evaluation may hamper creative thinking and that intrinsic motivation may be central to active creative work. Taking these observations, the essay goes on to suggest the best relationship between academic freedom, professionalism and creativity. This includes a look at how traditional universities in Sweden and Germany arose and were organized to foster creativity. Next the essay compares the Swedish university with innovative companies and concludes that, with study, the best institutional organization to foster creativity can be found. (106 endnotes) (JB)