Using Large Scale Individual Creativity to Improve Organisational Efficiency

                                                               Abstract This study reviews the outcomes from six similar organisational interventions two from the USA, three from the UK (one using Appreciative Inquiry) and one from Romania. By way of an illustration the process used by one of the interventions (Clapp, 1991) is described in detail. This process uses a well-defined problem to elicit potential solutions from people working in the organisation who have knowledge of the problem area. The results are compared with the five other interventions that use a similar process. The results show that given a supportive environment and a clear objective most people will engage in a problem-solving exercise and generate many ideas, the bulk of which are set within the current context. The number of ideas generated per person ranged between 1.33 and 1.53. Whereas for the project that used Appreciative Inquiry the number of ideas generated per person was 2.3. The average value of the savings from the ideas of each project ranged between £3.44K and £6.88K. These studies provide support for the theory that all people are creative problem-solvers given the opportunity to become active participants (Kirton 2003). Furthermore, to make use of this creativity in an organisation, managers have to provide a setting that will support and motivate individuals to focus their potential on a target of organisational importance. Key Words: Individual Creativity, Organisational Performance, OD Process Replication

An Exploration of the Factors Concerned with Reducing the Use of Plastic Carrier Bags in Bangkok, Thailand

AbstractThis research is an exploratory study to examine the attitude of people in Bangkok, Thailand, towards the reduction in use of plastic shopping bags. The research objective is to provide recommendations for policymakers as well as stakeholders in the public and private sector as to how plastic bag use may be effectively reduced.  Key findings are that the four factors of the independent variable ‘Use of plastic bags in Bangkok’ and four of the demographic variables Gender, Nationality, Age, and Occupation are all significantly related to the dependent variable ‘Intention to reduce the use of plastic bags’. Additionally, the study shows that regulatory measures like a plastic bag charge may initially reduce the use of plastic bags; however, the effect may only be short-term due to the minimal cost of the bag compared to the cost of items purchased. A number of alternatives are considered such as the substitution of engineered recycled paper containers and bags. However, the main long-term solution is seen as the promotion of a concern for the environment via waste control and recycling as a personal issue (particularly among children) leading to cultural adjustment rather than promotion of any particular project.Keywords: plastic bags, recycling, pollution, levy, retail sector, regulatory measures