Questions
Reading 2/2:
Read the passage and choose the best answer for each question.
SHEER GENIUS-OR A WASTE OF TIME?
Current business wisdom is that companies need creative, innovative people to beat competitors. The reality is that companies have always needed
12345678
new ideas to survive and progress, but in the past they weren't particularly good at encouraging the people who produced them.Original thinkers don't always fit easily into the framework of an organisation. However, the advice from managing director, John Serrano is. 'Get rid of the dull people and encourage the unusual ones'. Essentially, he believes that companies need to learn how to manage their original thinkers in order to ensure that the business profits from their contribution. He also says, 'Original thinkers often find it difficult to drive change within the organisation, so they resign, feeling angry and disappointed. It is essential to avoid this.'
'You can't recognise original thinkers by the way they look,' says lan Freeman. His consultancy, IBT Personnel, has devised a structured way to
identify original thinkers. 'We define employees as champions, free-wheelers, bystanders and weak links, and most original thinkers come into the
category of free-wheelers. They may miss deadlines if they become involved in something more interesting. They are passionate and highly motivated but have little or no understanding of business directions and systems.'Headhunter George Solomon also thinks original thinkers have their disadvantages. 'They may have a bad influence within an organisation.especially given the current management trend for working in teams. The original thinkers themselves may be unaware of any problem, but having them around can be disruptive to colleagues, who have to be allowed to point out when they are being driven crazy by the original thinkers'
behaviour.' Yet, in his opinion, the 'dream team' in any creative organisation consists of a balanced mixture of original thinkers and more practical,
realistic people.
Next Question
Next Reading
vant fini
ExQ: 1
So, how do you handle your original thinkers? One well-known computer games company has a very inventive approach to handle. 'We create an informal work environment, support risk-takers, and emphasize flexibility, acknowledging that encouraging creativity means taking risks,' says director Lorna Marsh.
Original thinkers may fit into the culture of 21st century organisations, but more traditional organisations may have to change their approach.Business psychologist Jean Row believes that Traditional organizations aiming to employ original thinkers should first assess whether the benefits they bring outweigh the challenges they pose. If so, they should provide space and clear boundaries, set demanding targets, and reap the rewards if these thinkers succeed
