Social Network for RSA Fellows
Constraints and Creativity
There is a school of thought that says that creativity is enhanced by having all the resources you need. There is an equal and opposite view that suggests that limitations can be the spur to creativity. It is to this view that I want to turn. Starting with the gypsy jazz musician Django Reinhardt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV6AB3WsNcM
Tony Iommi accidentally 'copied' Django's loss after an accident in a sheet metal factory where he lost the tips of the middle and ring finger of his right hand. Inspired by Reinhardt, Iommi made plastic covers for his fingers by melting plastic bottles and dipping them in while the plastic was soft enough to be shaped.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TyktFhsM38
The parallel lesson from my background in pharmaceuticals is that many of the world's breakthrough therapies were not discovered in sterile glass corporate buildings, but often in rather unpromising conditions, by people who had been starved of budget, resources and attention by the corporate centre. I'm not suggesting that this should become a modus operandi for running innovative businesses. Just that sometimes opulence does not produce the conditions where people give that extra effort that leads to innovative breakthroughs.
At a personal level, give someone all s/he needs and he may use those resources to come up with something ingenious. Tell him or her that it's impossible or there isn't time and they might spend a lot more effort proving you wrong. Clearly this is not an absolute truth in all circumstances, but it's widely ignored.
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Review of RSA Fellowship nings, social networks
Over the next few months the RSAde Group will be consolidating regional social networks and nings. The aim will be to improve connectivity for Fellows, improve communication and reduce fragmentation.
Therefore there will be an increase of regional and thematic groups over the next few months.
If you would like further information on these changes please contact the RSAde team via the Digital Engagement group on this network.
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Guide to RSA online communities
Created by Matthew Kálmán Mezey Dec 6, 2011 at 11:03am. Last updated by Matthew Kálmán Mezey Jun 22, 2012.
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