CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH STIMULATE AND INHIBIT CREATIVITY

The study investigated the characteristics of Brazilian organizations which affect creativity. A sample of 25 workers were interviewed. The respondents answered several questions about the characteristics of a work environment which promote and inhibit creativity, and about facto rs in their own work environment that contribute to the promotion or i nhibition of creativity. Content analysis of the transcribed interview s indicated 10 categories of stimulants and 11 categories of obstacles to creativity. Among the most mentioned stimulant factors to creativi ty were organization support, organization structure, support from the boss, and colleagues' support. On the other hand, some of the most pr evalent obstacles to creativity were organization structure, boss char acteristics, personal relationships, and organization culture. Results are discussed in terms of the similarity with data obtained in other contexts.