Can creativity be measured, managed and thus grow a business? Researchers join forces with Finnish companies
The Creative Leap research project, funded by Business Finland, aims to make creativity visible in business.
Creative Leap: Creativity as a competitive advantage in business
In a complex and rapidly changing world, creativity is essential for the development, renewal and success of organisations making it one of the most essential and sought-after skills and assets in today’s work life. It has the ability to drive innovation, problem-solving and operational development.
‘Creative Leap: Creativity as a competitive advantage in business’ is a co-research project funded by Business Finland and Next Generation EU. It researches how creativity can be measured and managed and if creative methods and approaches correlate with financial success. It aims to create a framework to support the impact of individual and organizational creativity within companies in Finland and to model the financial impact of creativity.
‘Creative Leap: Creativity as a competitive advantage in business’ is a co-research project funded by Business Finland and Next Generation EU. It researches how creativity can be measured and managed and if creative methods and approaches correlate with financial success. It aims to create a framework to support the impact of individual and organizational creativity within companies in Finland and to model the financial impact of creativity.
About Creative Leap
Latest happenings on Creative Leap project
- Creativity and Collaboration: Transforming the Impossible seminar was held the 30th September.
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Mark Runco held a keynote on Artificial Creativity at LASER Talks on 3rd October.
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Diving Into Radical Creativity online course is now open!
- Creative Leap studies individual and organizational creativity in working life for all businesses.
- The project asks how the implementation of creativity is reflected in the organization's business and whether a creative organizational culture correlates with financial success.
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The co-research projects consists of four work packages:
- WP1 models individual and orginsational creativity through surveys.
- WP2 looks into how creativity emerges in daily work-life.
- WP3 measures the financial impact of creativity.
- WP4 focuses on project management.
- The research is funded by Business Finland and Next Generation EU.
- Timeline: January 2024 - December 2025
Work Package 1: Creative Performance
Scientifically proven methods for supporting, measuring and developing individual and organizational creativity
Work Package 1 (WP1) looks into creative potential on individual and organisational level by using creativity surveys. Their research aims to identify the elements of creativity and develop a model for individual and organizational creativity.
WP1 is led by Professor Mark Runco (Aalto / Southern Oregon University) and Susanna Rahkamo from Yellow Method.
WP 1 Leaders
Director of Creativity Research and Programming, Southern Oregon University & Visiting Professor of Radical Creativity, Aalto University
Mark A. Runco is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Creativity and a recipient of several Lifetime Achievement Awards for his research on creativity. With over 40 years dedicated to studying creativity, Runco’s research draws on cognitive psychology, developmental, clinical, genetic, historical, and economic perspectives. Mark’s journey into the field of creativity began in college when he took a class on creativity igniting a lifelong fascination that has shaped his career.
For Mark, creativity is fundamental to daily life. It helps us to solve problems, adapt to challenges, and contribute to social, cultural, and personal well-being. As the world has become increasingly complex and fast-paced, he believes that creativity has become more essential than ever: “Creativity does all kinds of things: it supports our health for example, and it adds a great deal to quality of life. It is also related to advancements, evolution and progress. On an individual level, it also plays a strong role in development and the fulfilment of potentials …”.
In Mark’s view, creativity is more than just a skill; it’s a way of navigating and enhancing life in a world that is continually transforming.
Co-founder & CSO, Yellow Method
Susanna Rahkamo is an accomplished leadership consultant, leader, a researcher and a European Champion, World Silver Medalist, and two-time Olympian in ice dancing. She specialises in analysing and enhancing organisations' innovation capacities. During her PhD studies at Aalto University, she developed models that illustrate the critical role of creativity in driving success and fostering exceptional expertise. She’s currently leading the research and analytics at Yellow Method, helping organisations uncover and integrate their creative potential as a core component of their business strategy.
Through her experience in ice dancing, Susanna has collaborated with a wide range of creative professionals worldwide. While many assume that these individuals hold a special and rare talent and ability to innovate, Susanna has found that their achievements are rooted in pragmatic and persistent work. For her creativity is not a special skill but rather an ability everyone can access and develop.
Susanna emphasises that everyone’s brains are “wired” in different ways, which allows each person to view the world from different perspectives. This gives everyone the ability to produce unique views, angles, ideas and concepts, which for Susanna lies at the heart of creativity.
Work Package 2: Creativity As A Relational Process
How does creativity emerge from encounters in mundane work practices?
Work Package 2 (WP2) takes qualitative critical approach to examine everyday work practices and dominant assumptions of creativity. It aims to reach a deeper understanding of the values embedded in the organizational culture and offer alternative narratives of how creativity emerges in organizations. The data collection consists of micro-ethnographic field work and interviews.
WP2 is led by Assistant Professor Astrid Huopalainen, (BIZ / ARTS, Aalto) and Postdoctoral Researcher Ana Paula Lafaire (BIZ, Aalto).
Work Package 3: Financial Impact of Creativity
Framework for modeling the financial impact of creativity and creative activity
How to measure the benefits of creativity for business?
Work Package 3 (WP3) develops a framework to measure the business value of creativity. The aim is to use qualitative and quantitative analysis to identify the indicators of this value, ideally by using publicly available data on project partners' financial performance. The first version of the framework and indicators are evaluated with project partners.
WP3 is led by Professor Matti Rossi (BIZ, Aalto), Assistant Professor Eeva Vilkkumaa (BIZ, Aalto) and Researcher Niina Mallat (BIZ, Aalto).
Related News
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Riikka Mäkikoskela’s leading article in Aalto University Magazine describes the combination of rational reasoning, emotional intelligence and radical creativity as an invisible tool in order to birth something new.
'We cannot solve today’s complex challenges with traditional approaches' –– dozens of Finnish organisations support Aalto's radical creativity initiative
Aalto University launches a free online course to make the basics of radical creativity accessible to all
Creative Leap Team
Mark Runco
Visiting Professor
Pirita Posti
Manager, Corporate Relations, School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Project Funders
Project Partners
Work Package 1: Get to Know
WP1 is lead by Visiting Professor Mark Runco (Aalto University / Southern Oregon University)and Susanna Rahkamo of Yellow Method.
Mark A. Runco Director of Creativity Research and Programming, Southern Oregon University & Visiting Professor of Radical Creativity, Aalto University
Mark A. Runco is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Creativity and a recipient of several Lifetime Achievement Awards for his research on creativity. With over 40 years dedicated to studying creativity, Runco’s research draws on cognitive psychology, developmental, clinical, genetic, historical, and economic perspectives. Mark’s journey into the field of creativity began in college when he took a class in college on creativity igniting a lifelong fascination that has shaped his career.
For Mark, creativity is fundamental to daily life. It helps us to solve problems, adapt to challenges, and contribute to social, cultural, and personal well-being. As the world has become increasingly complex and fast-paced, he believes that creativity has become more essential than ever: “Creativity does all kinds of things: it supports our health for example, and it adds a great deal to quality of life. It is also related to advancements, evolution and progress. On an individual level, it also plays a strong role in development and the fulfilment of potentials …”.
In Mark’s view, creativity is more than just a skill; it’s a way of navigating and enhancing life in a world that is continually transforming.
Susanna Rahkamo, Co-founder & CSO, Yellow Method
Susanna Rahkamo is an accomplished ice dancer, leadership consultant, leader, and a researcher, who’s specialized in analyzing and enhancing organizations' innovation capacities. She’s currently leading the research and analytics at Yellow Method, helping organizations uncover and integrate their creative potential as a core component of their business strategy.
Through her experience in ice dancing, Susanna has collaborated with a wide range of creative professionals worldwide. While many assume that these individuals hold a special and rare talent and ability to innovate, Susanna has found that their achievements are rooted in pragmatic and persistent work. For her creativity is not a special skill but rather an ability everyone can access and develop.
Susanna emphasizes that everyone’s brains are “wired” in different ways, which allows each person to view the world from different perspectives. This gives everyone the ability to produce unique views, angles, ideas and concepts, which for Susanna lies at the heart of creativity.
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