The Manchester Business School Middle East Centre (MBS) in Dubai, UAE has launched a research programme into the drivers and barriers to creativity and innovation in the GCC.

The programme is being led by Dr Mark Batey, CPsychol AFBPsS, creativity specialist at Manchester Business School and one of the world’s leading researchers into creativity in the workplace.

The programme kicked off with focus groups in the UAE as part of the research design process and will continue across the GCC through the year with initial findings to be shared in autumn 2015 and formal academic publication planned for 2016.

The research programme has been launched to mark Manchester Business School’s 50th anniversary in 2015 and, in the UAE, to coincide with the ‘Year of Innovation’.

According to MBS research leader Dr Batey, creativity is recognised as the key skill for success in the 21st century but understanding the context of people and culture is vital to nurturing it effectively. MBS is undertaking a customised regional research programme to produce powerful, practical research to understand the drivers and barriers to creativity and innovation in the unique context of the GCC.

“Creativity is the capacity to develop ideas to solve problems and take advantage of opportunities,” explained Dr Batey. “It is essential in every part of an organisation because it is the driver of innovation in products, processes and services and is central to a thriving economy and society.

“Managing and leading people to encourage creativity and innovation is a key theme for countries and businesses in the GCC. Creativity and innovation do not happen in a vacuum. Cultivating, leading and managing creativity is difficult and understanding the cultural context – the beliefs, behaviours and background of the GCC is essential. Copying Western approaches just doesn’t work,” he added.

MBS will explore creativity and innovation in the region at the level of the organisation, team and individual, through a blend of qualitative and quantitative research.

Focus groups on key themes with senior figures in government and industry will help acquire greater understanding of the context of the GCC and steer the design of the survey to be undertaken with managers and professionals across the region.

Randa Bessiso, director – Middle East, Manchester Business School, said: “As the GCC moves through economic and digital transformation and diversifies to move towards a knowledge economy, creativity and innovation will move up the agenda for business and governments.”

“Technology is disrupting many industries and creating new ones, whilst changing the relationship between citizens and government. Innovation will be central to supporting the ambitious economic growth objectives of all the GCC countries; MBS is a research-driven business school focusing on practical solutions and this ground-breaking research aims to help the region better understand and harness its vast creative potential,” Bessiso added. – TradeArabia News Service