You’re struggling to measure creativity and innovation in the workplace. What’s the best way to do it?

2 What to measure: inputs, outputs, and outcomes

To measure creativity and innovation, it is important to define what you are looking for. Three categories of indicators can be used: inputs, outputs, and outcomes. Inputs include resources and conditions that enable creativity and innovation, such as time, budget, skills, tools, diversity, collaboration, autonomy, and motivation. Outputs are the tangible results of creativity and innovation such as ideas, prototypes, products, services, patents, publications, awards and recognition. Lastly, outcomes are the impacts and benefits of creativity and innovation which can include customer satisfaction, loyalty, retention, revenue, market share, social value and environmental sustainability.

3 How to measure: qualitative and quantitative methods

To measure creativity and innovation, you need to use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative methods are based on observation, interviews, surveys, focus groups, and feedback. They help you understand the perceptions, opinions, experiences, and emotions of your team and your customers. Quantitative methods are based on data, metrics, benchmarks, and tests. They help you measure the frequency, quantity, quality, and efficiency of your team's creative output and outcome.

4 When to measure: before, during, and after

To measure creativity and innovation, you need to choose the right timing. Before starting your team's creative process, you can measure the inputs and the baseline of your creative potential and performance. This will help you set the scope, objectives, and criteria for your project. During the creative process, you can measure the outputs and the progress to monitor, adjust, and improve your actions and decisions. Finally, after completing the project, you can measure the outcomes and the impact of your team's creative solution to evaluate, learn, and celebrate your results and achievements.

5 What tools to use: examples and suggestions

To measure creativity and innovation, you need to use the right tools. For example, the Creative Climate Questionnaire (CCQ) and Team Climate Inventory (TCI) can be used to assess the factors that influence your team's creative environment and culture. Additionally, the Idea Evaluation Matrix and Innovation Scorecard can rate and compare your team's ideas and solutions based on criteria like novelty, feasibility, usefulness, and value. Lastly, the Net Promoter Score (NPS) and Customer Effort Score (CES) can measure your customer's satisfaction, loyalty, and advocacy for your product or service.

6 How to improve: tips and best practices

To foster creativity and innovation within your team, it is necessary to use the insights and feedback from your measurement. You should communicate your vision and strategy clearly and consistently, involve your team and customers in setting and reviewing goals, and provide resources, tools, and support. Encourage the generation, sharing, and testing of ideas, celebrate efforts, successes, and failures, seek and give constructive feedback in a timely manner, learn from mistakes and failures, and experiment and iterate constantly.