Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity

by John J. Kao

In today's competitive environment, creativity is no longer an option. Companies that understand how to manage creativity in their people, organize for creative results and willingly implement good new ideas will triumph. In Jamming, John Kao also offers an approach that demystifies a topic traditionally confounding to businesspeople everywhere. He begins by showing how creativity, like the musical discipline of jazz, has a vocabulary and a grammar. It is a process, and because of that it can be observed, analyzed, understood, replicated, taught and managed. He explains how creativity needs a particular environment in which to blossom and grow. Like musicians in a jam session, a group of businesspeople can take an idea, challenge one another's imagination and produce an entirely new set of possibilities. Kao reveals how managers can stimulate creativity in their employees, explores the impact of information technology on creativity, looks at the globalization of creativity and shows how to ensure the loyalty of people who design, build and deliver today's vital products and services.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Leadership, Management

228 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 1996

Reviews

[Kevin Doohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this book based on a sign that a former boss made for me. It was a "Jam Rules" sign for a brainstorming session and it had three rules: 1) Think big, 2) Blurt, 3) No questions. I asked him where he got the ideas thinking they were maybe from a previous gig or another brainstorming session and he credited this book with the idea. I knew I had to get it. This book is also a fave of Josh Linkner, founder and CEO of ePrize. We discussed it at an ePrize client conference a while back...

I think the book is pretty good. It advises to use methods that are well know to jazz improvisation within the hallowed halls of business to stimulate creativity and ultimately, better results. It is a quick read and worth your time. It's tough to find these days. I think it has been out of print for a while. Not a "top 10" business or creativity book but a worthwhile read that can inspire you to bring more creativity to your workplace and provides some nice analogies to how successful jazz musicians work to guide you along the way.

[Eugene Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still relevant and timely

[Lori Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

An optional-read book on creative ability in self development for knowledge workers, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs.