How Crises May Relate to Creativity and Innovation: An Introduction

Human history is marked by crises, whether at the individual, group/organizational, or societal levels and crises bring about a sense of urgency to act and adapt. This adaptive process is an opportunity for creativity and innovation. This chapter serves as an introduction to the book Crises, Creativity and Innovation contributed by scholars across various disciplines. It provides an integrative overview of the chapters along three themes: theoretical models about crises, creativity, and innovation; the relationship between crises and creativity in education; and the relationship between crises and creativity and innovation in organizational or broader social contexts. Collectively, the chapters in this book show that under certain conditions, crises can catalyze creative and innovative responses. Nevertheless, caution is advised against the potential adverse effects of crises and the detrimental effect of dark creativity. The chapter calls for more interdisciplinary research on the topic and the development of creative integrity in response to crises.