The Virtual Mirror - Reflecting on Social and Psychological Self to Increase Organizational Creativity

Abstract

This article offers a novel approach for managers to increase creativity in their teams by measuring individual personality characteristics, crucial for creative people. We assess inter-personal interaction with sensor-equipped badges worn on the body. In a research project with 22 study subjects, who wore the badges during work for one month, we were able to predict extroversion, neuroticism, openness, and agreeability based on microscopic social network analysis. We obtained control measures of these values with a standard psychological test (NEO-FFI). As opposed to conventional personality tests, where people have to fill out lengthy questionnaires and surveys, our method offers an automated, and potentially more reliable way to assess these personality characteristics. Once these characteristics are considered, teams can be reshuffled and team membership changed for higher creativity.

Keywords: group creativity, social network analysis, social badges, FFI

JEL Classification: C91