There is a pervasive belief that creativity and innovation are separate and distinct from the concept of science. That creativity and innovation cannot be scientific. This is completely false.

An event begins to fall into the realms of science when experiments are repeatable and the results reproducible. The myth that creativity occurs out of the blue combines to create the impression that it is impossible to design repeatable experiments that generate reproducible results.

One useful definition for this article is to define creativity as problem identification and idea generation and innovation as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

To make creativity scientific, ask two questions:

a) Can repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) be designed to increase problem identification? Is an increase of output reproducible?

b) Can repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) be designed to increase idea generation? Is an increase of output reproducible?

To make innovation scientific, ask three questions:

a) Can repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) be designed to increase idea selection effectiveness? Is an increase of output reproducible?

b) Can repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) be designed to increase development output? Is an increase of output reproducible?

c) Can repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) be designed to increase commercialisation output? Is an increase of output reproducible?

Answering the above:

a) It is not unusual for people to agree that repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) can be designed to increase problem identification. Results - an increase of output - are reproducible.

b) When people need to generate ideas, they will herd people into a room with a flip chart and conduct an idea brainstorming session. Implicit in this action is the acceptance that certain processes and structures etc… increase idea generation. In fact there are an infinite number of processes and structures that increase idea generation and make insight more likely (see MBA dissertation at www.managing-creativity.com). Results - an increase of output - are reproducible.

c) It is not unusual for people to agree that repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) can be designed to increase problem idea selection effectiveness. Results - an increase of output - are reproducible.

d) It is not unusual for people to agree that repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) can be designed to increase development output. Results - an increase of output - are reproducible.

e) It is not unusual for people to agree that repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) can be designed to increase commercialisation output. Results - an increase of output - are reproducible.

In conclusion, given the nature of creativity and innovation, it may not be possible to design repeatable experiments that produce exactly the same ideas, but it is possible to design repeatable experiments that always produce an increase in idea generation. Though you cannot predict what an idea will be, where it will occur and what form it will take you can increase the likelihood of ideas occurring. Further, you can increase the number of ideas produced, the rarity of those ideas, the diversity of those ideas and the frequency of their production.

There is much more to this……

This topic is covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com. You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

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You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop MBA is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com

How often do you go to the bathroom and have a bowel movement?
I realize that this question may seem odd, but it the most basic sign of good digestive health. Over 95% of health problems start in the digestive system and constipation is certainly a culprit in many of these maladies.

Bowel movements should correlate to how many meals are eaten in a 24 hour period. If you eat three meals in a 24 hour period, you should have three bowel movements. If not, you are constipated. The statistics show that over 65% of the American Population is constipated.

There are two different theories related to constipation. They are the traditional Medical Opinion as well as the holistic opinion.

Traditional Medicine defines constipation as the passage of small amounts of hard dry stool. However it also states that we have different levels of metabolism and because of this we all experience different frequencies of elimination.

Holistic Medicine believes that you should have one elimination for every meal you eat each day. The holistic practitioner would tell you that the healthiest digestive system is one that absorbs food and nutrition at meals and eliminates the toxic waste 12 to 18 hours later. If the food stays in your system for more than 18 hours it putrefies, accumulates toxins which get absorbed into the bloodstream and contributes to numerous other health concerns.

If you are constipated there are several things that you can do to bring your body back into balance.

1) DRINK more water. Ideally you should drink one ounce of water for every pound of body weight each day. This will help rehydrate the digestive system.

2) Exercise Regularly. This will increase the blood flow which will assist with normal elimination.

3) Supplement with a good daily fiber product that consists of ground flax.

4) Lubricate your digestive system with Essential Fatty Acids like Flax, Borage and Fish Oils which make it easier to have an elimination.

The reason that Constipation is a serious health concern is that we absorb whatever is put in our digestive system. If your digestive system is blocked and filled with waste you will absorb that waste and put the burden on your liver, lungs, lymphatic system, blood, skin, colon and kidneys to assist in getting those toxins out of your body.

It is always a great idea to see a naturopathic medical practitioner who can suggest great supplements, reading materials and healthy alternatives when confronted with poor digestive health.

Charles O. Palmerson is the webmaster for http://www.eConstipation.com
an online Constipation Information Resource created to resolve poor digestive health.

Perhaps you have heard in the past the issues with Diarrhea and other illness symptoms, which can be caught thru boarding a cruise line for a dream vacation? Many of the main cruise lines have taken on some water over this issue, that is to say some tough to over come negative PR over viruses running ramped on board during cruises when everyone got sick? Some times it was food poisoning, other times they believe airborne.

As the ocean surface temperatures get hotter due to Climate Change some believe that the viruses will have a better chance of finding hosts aboard these ships. Sounds scary but it really isn’t you see you can buy Diarrhea Drugs to prevent the symptoms, while your immune system attacks, defeats and kills the rather harmless virus.

Some say; “we seem to be having a problem with the cruise lines and viruses.” Perhaps they are unaware of these new drugs to stop diarrhea in children will fix this problem. In fact in Tampa, FL the common waterborne parasites, may soon meet its match too, as a new drug is to be released and is now approved by the FDA. Check out the new drug by Romark Labs, called Alinia. Also great for third world countries where most of these parasites start from.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/081602/sta_cruisecleaning.shtml

and sure enough they did not and now:

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/national/12_6_02sick_cruises.html

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TRAVEL/11/27/disney.sick.cruise/

Do not worry about catching a virus or anything like that on a cruise ship they have this problem well under control and you need not worry about it. Just book your cruise and enjoy yourself, because you deserve it. Consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/