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  • October 1996
  • Article
  • Academy of Management Journal

Assessing the Work Environment for Creativity

By: T. M. Amabile, R. Conti, H. Coon, J. Lazenby and M. Herron
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:31
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Abstract

We describe the development and validation of a new instrument, KEYS: Assessing the Climate for Creativity, designed to assess perceived stimulants and obstacles to creativity in organizational work environments. The KEYS scales have acceptable factor structures, internal consistencies, test-retest reliabilities, and preliminary convergent and discriminant validity. A construct validity study shows that perceived work environments, as assessed by the KEYS scales, discriminate between high-creativity projects and low-creativity projects; certain scales discriminate more strongly and consistently than others. We discuss the utility of this tool for research and practice.

Keywords

Creativity; Motivation And Incentives; Organizational Culture; Innovation And Invention; Groups And Teams; Performance; Research; Theory

Citation

Amabile, T. M., R. Conti, H. Coon, J. Lazenby, and M. Herron. "Assessing the Work Environment for Creativity." Academy of Management Journal 39, no. 5 (October 1996): 1154–1184.
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About The Author

Teresa M. Amabile

Entrepreneurial Management
→More Publications

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More from the Authors
  • How to Help (Without Micromanaging) By: Colin M. Fisher, Teresa M. Amabile and Julianna Pillemer
  • Creativity, Artificial Intelligence, and a World of Surprises By: Teresa M. Amabile
  • Consensual Assessment By: B. A. Hennessey, J. S. Mueller and T. M. Amabile
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