A creative mix with peat and flavoured milk
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The popular understanding is that MBAs are fine when it comes to financial analysis and other more scientific aspects of management, and less good when a little creativity is required.
But over the coming weeks, that notion - and a few students at one of Britain's leading business schools - will be put to the test.
The Creativity in Business challenge is being organised by Tudor Rickards, professor of creativity and organisational change at Manchester Business School, and sponsored by Manchester International Airport, Johnson and Higgins, insurance brokers, the accountancy firm Arthur Andersen and its associated law firm Garretts. The project will involve 24 of the school's masters of business administration candidates in coming up with solutions to four real-life business problems being encountered by organisations in the North-west.
Over the next two months they will be pondering what to do with 2 million tons of high-grade peat that is being excavated as part of the preparation for a road project; how a dairy firm can utilise excess flavoured milk production capacity; how a trader in animal hides and skins can develop its customer service; and what a furniture company can do to raise its profile. They will present their solutions to a panel of judges who will announce the winning team at an awards ceremony to be held at the business school next month.
Professor Rickards believes that pressure of work often leads business people to develop short cuts when attempting to deal with problems, and he will help the students to use techniques that unlock mental processes, in order to come up with creative solutions that will give the businesses a lead over the competition.
"Life - and business - is a series of challenges and problems," he says. "Unfortunately, we naturally develop habitual ways of finding answers which, under pressure of time, often end up being short cuts to unimaginative solutions. In the rush to solve a problem, we unwittingly shut off thinking about alternative, maybe better, ideas"
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments