Knowledge workers' creativity and the role of the physical work environment

ABSTRACT The present study examines the effect of the physical work environment on the creativity of knowledge workers, compared with the effects of creative personality and the social-organizational work environment. Based on data from 274 knowledge workers in 27 SMEs, we conclude that creative personality, the social-organizational work environment, and the physical work environment independently affect creative performance. The relative contribution of the physical work environment is smaller than that of the social-organizational work environment, and both contributions are smaller than that of creative personality. The results give support for HR practices that focus on the individual, on the social-organizational work environment, and on the physical work environment in order to enhance knowledge worker creativity

Assessing creative potential : recruitment and selection in creative SMEs in the UK

This thesis tackles the assessment of job candidates‟ creative potential through the processes of recruitment and selection in UK creative SMEs. Literature on individual creativity (Rogers, 1954; Oldham and Cummings, 1996; Sternberg and Lubart, 1996; Sternberg, O‟Hara and Lubart, 1997; West, 1997; Simonton, 2000), has placed importance on the individual characteristics and personality traits that distinguish a creative individual from a non-creative. Lack of knowledge regarding creativity assessment through recruitment and selection in creative SMEs has triggered the author to investigate this area. The author has designed a theoretical framework which comprises three elements, namely personality traits, individual knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) and team KSAs, which, according to the literature review, need to be taken into account when assessing individuals‟ creative potential in creative SMEs. This framework was tested with the use of a mixed methodological approach. Firstly, the qualitative approach involved the performance of 17 interviews with the owners/managers and directors of creative SMEs in Scotland. The quantitative approach involved the design and distribution of a questionnaire to a larger sample of creative companies across the UK, which resulted in 140 answered questionnaires. From the analysis of these data, interesting findings arose which indicated that creative SMEs use a mix of criteria when assessing job candidates‟ creativity. Personality traits, individual and team KSAs were highlighted, as well as the importance of motivation, which influenced selection decisions. Variations on the importance of such criteria were evident when the researcher investigated the different creative sectors and the different positions the respondents held. The most commonly used recruitment and selection practices in creative SMEs were provided. Additionally, differences in the recruitment methods used between creative SMEs who have and have not won creative awards were highlighted.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

3-Keto steroids from the marine organisms Dendrophyllia cornigera and Cymodocea nodosa

The new (20R)-22E-cholesta-4,22-diene-3,6-dione (1), along with three known 3-keto steroids were isolated from the deep-water Mediterranean scleractinian coral Dendrophyllia cornigera (2-4). Moreover, four known related 3-keto steroids were isolated from the sea grass Cymodocea nodosa (5-8). The structure elucidation of steroid 1 and the full NMR resonance assignments of all isolated metabolites were based on interpretation of their spectral data. All compounds are reported for the first time as metabolites of the investigated organisms. Compounds 2 and 3 showed significant cytotoxicity against lung cancer NSCLC-N6 cell line. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved