Complete the Self-Assessment:

Question:

1. Based on your score do you have a more innovative attitude then others or is this an area of growth for you? Explain.

Chapter 7 Self-Assessment: Mind Benders Innovation is a key to corporate success. Companies that innovate and embrace the changes in their business environment tend to outperform those that stand still. Even so, innovative companies don't simply rely on the creativity of their own work force. They often contract with outside providers to generate new ideas for everything from operations to new products. In other words, innovative companies fill gaps in their own creativity by looking outside the organization. As a manager, you will benefit from understanding how you are creative (not if you are creative). And just as important as your own creativity is your attitude toward creative endeavors. This assessment will provide some baseline information you can use as you develop your managerial skills. Indicate the extent to which each of the following statements is true of either your actual behavior or your intentions at work. That is, describe the way you are or the way you intend to be on the job. Use this scale for your responses: 1. Almost never true 2. Seldom true 3. Not applicable 4. Often true 5. Almost always true 1. I openly discuss with my supervisor how to get ahead. 1 2 3 5 2. I try new ideas and approaches to problems. 1 2 3 4 5 3. I take things or situations apart to find out how they work. 1 2 3 4 5 4. I welcome uncertainty and unusual circumstances related to my tasks. 1 2 3 4 5 5. I negotiate my salary openly with my supervisor. 1 2 3 4 5 6. I can be counted on to find a new use for existing methods or equipment. 1 2 3 4 5 7. Among my colleagues and coworkers, I will be the first or nearly the first to try out a new idea or method. 1 2 3 4 5 8. I take the opportunity to translate communications from other departments for my work group. 12345 9. I demonstrate originality. 12345 10. I will work on a problem that has caused others great difficulty. 12345 11. I provide critical input toward a new solution. 12. I provide written evaluations of proposed ideas. 12345 13. I develop contacts with experts outside my fi rm. 12345 14. I use personal contacts to maneuver into choice work assignments. 12345 15. I make time to pursue my own pet ideas or projects. 12345 16. I set aside resources for the pursuit of a risky project. 12345 17. I tolerate people who depart from organizational routine. 18. I speak out in staff meetings. 19. I work in teams to try to solve complex problems. 12345 20. If my coworkers are asked, they will say I am witty. 12345 TOTAL = Interpreting the Score Here is what your score means. Add up the numbers associated with your responses to the 20 items. Generally speaking, the higher your score, the more innovative your attitude. Compare your score to the norm group (consisting of graduate and undergraduate business school students, all of whom were employed full time) represented in the table below. Percentile indicates the percentage of people who are expected to score below you