The Role of Creativity, Innovation, and Invention in Knowledge Management

Abstract

Globalization, fast-paced technological, economic, and social changes, and increased competition have affected the current business environment by changing the role of knowledge, innovation, and creativity in work, learning, and everyday life. Although Knowledge Management (KM) is usually explored separately from creativity and innovation, these concepts are closely related and in practice reinforce each other. Linking KM to innovation and creativity management in a holistic fashion has facilitated the examination of the knowledge management impact on innovation performance of organizations. In addition, this practice makes it possible to examine how creativity and invention can be used to increase the efficiency of knowledge management. This chapter focuses on the analysis of the role and importance of creativity, innovation, and invention in knowledge management. In addition, the chapter investigates the role of KM in innovation, and environmental and personal factors, which contribute to creativity, innovation, and invention in KM.