Attribution theory is the process of explaining the

world around us. We may use this every day to explain

things, such as the causes of certain behaviours or
outcomes. Knowing this theory and how it applies to
aspects of our daily lives can help you identify our
own biases towards certain people and situations, and
those of other people. In this article, we look at the
definition, the different types and some examples to
illustrate.
What is attribution theory?
Attribution theory is how we attribute feelings and intentions to people to
understand their behaviour. For example, we may unconsciously apply this
theory when we see someone shouting on public transport. You may blame
their character, assuming they are an angry person. Alternatively, you might
blame the situation they are in, such as, if the train is busy, it might make them
nervous and more likely to act out. These two explanations relate to the main
types of theories, dispositional and situational attribution.
How does Attribution Theory Work?
The Attribution Theory is concerned with how individuals perceive the
information they receive, interpret events, and how these form causal
judgements. No individual would take an action or decision without attributing
it to a cause or factor. According to Heider, this is aimed at assessing the
explanation that people give to certain behaviours, it considers how individuals
interpret their behaviours. The theory of attribution posits that attribution,
whether done internally or externally, has great influence on how people feel
and relate to others. Heider says that all behaviour is considered to be
determined by either internal or by external factors:
External Attribution (Situational Attribution): Causality is assigned to an
outside factor, agent or force. Outside factors fall outside your control. You
perceive you have no choice. So your behaviour is influenced, limited or even
completely determined by influences outside your control. Therefore you feel
not responsible. A generic example is the weather.
Internal Attribution (Dispositional Attribution): Causality is assigned to an
inside factor, agent or force. Inside factors fall inside your own control. You can
choose to behave in a particular way or not. So your behavior is not influenced,
limited or even completely determined by influences outside your control.
Therefore you feel responsible. A typical example is your own intelligence.
What are the Steps in the Attribution Theory Process?
There is a three-stage process underlying attribution:

1. Perception. Observe. The person must perceive or observe the

behaviour.
2. Judgment. Determine deliberateness. The person must believe that the
behaviour was intentionally performed.
3. Attribute. The person must determine if he believes the other person
was forced to perform the behaviour (in which case the cause is
attributed to the situation) or not (in which case the cause is
A BEHAVIORAL APPROACH to creativity focuses on the relationship between
an individual's behaviour and events in and properties of the individual's
environment. This approach employs techniques such as reinforce- ment,
prompting, modelling, and environmental manipulation to enhance creativity.
Creativity Techniques
Brainstorming-A technique for generating ideas and solving specific problems
with uncensored and nonlinear thinking, usually performed through group
participation in a spontaneous discussion where all ideas are noted without
assigning them value, and no proposal is selected or discarded until after the
conclusion of the creative exercise.
Brainstorming is a method of generating ideas and sharing knowledge to solve
a particular commercial or technical problem, in which participants are
encouraged to think without interruption. Brainstorming is a group activity
where each participant shares their ideas as soon as they come to mind. At the
conclusion of the session, ideas are categorised and ranked for follow-on
action.
To ensure a productive session and one to which all present contribute, there
are several brainstorming 'rules' -
1. Encourage novel and innovative ideas, however odd they may first
appear
2. The quantity of ideas is more important than quality, so while ideas are
shared with the group they are not discussed or criticised in detail; this is
reserved for a later stage
3. Build on the ideas put forward by others
4. Every person and every idea has equal worth
5. Each idea generated belongs to the group rather than the individual who
thought of it.

Creativity in Association-

In 1962, Sarnoff Mednick published his associative theory of the creative

process. He argued that creative thinking was the process by which
disparate elements come together in new combinations to make a
proposition useful to the individual or society.
 Association in psychology refers to a mental connection between
concepts, events, or mental states that usually stems from specific
experiences. Associations are seen throughout several schools of
thought in psychology including behaviourism, associations,
psychoanalysis, social psychology, and structuralism.

1. Incubation: At this stage, you take a step back from the problem and
allow your mind to wander to let it contemplate and work the problem
through. You nurture the unconscious thought process, for example, by
staying open to the ideas that come to you while you do the dishes or go for
a walk. You open your mind to all ideas—even the crazy ones.

The Importance of Incubation Phase

Why is the incubation phase so important? For one, it gives the mind a
necessary rest from conscious, focused problem-solving. Engaging with a
problem intensely can often lead to mental fatigue, and when we're
fatigued, our problem-solving skills can falter. Incubation allows the mind
to refresh and recharge, preparing it for further creative work.

In addition, incubation often leads to unexpected insights and solutions.

The unconscious mind is exceptionally good at making connections
between seemingly unrelated ideas, a process known as associative
thinking. By giving the mind a break from focused thinking, we allow these
associative processes to occur, often leading to novel and creative solutions.

Mapping is a method that uses comprehension/concentration skills and

evolves in a note taking form which relates each fact or idea to every other
fact or idea. Mapping is a graphic representation of the content of a lecture.
Mapping, similar to the charting method, maximizes active participation in
note-takers as it requires them to organize facts, ideas, and information in a
logical map. While the charting method utilizes charts for visualization
purposes, the mapping method uses maps.
Mapping Method- What is the mapping method of note-taking?
The mapping method of note-taking, also known as “concept mapping,”
provides a graphical representation of information, ideas, facts, and concepts.
The format involves writing the main topic into the centre of the document
and connecting related subtopics, ideas, and concepts through branches,
images, and colors.
The modern version of mind mapping was popularized by Tony Buzan – an
English author and education consultant. He first brought worldwide attention
to the mapping technique with his “The Mind Map Book” (also available on
Google Books). The book quickly rose to bestseller status and achieved cult-like
status among the productivity crowd.
However, based on modern research, we can conclude that at least some of
Tony Buzan’s theoretical framework may have been built on shaky ground at
the time of writing his book.
For example, he believed in the theory that the brain has two sides
independent of each other. The left is the boring, analytical side, and the right
is the creative, fun side. Tony Buzan did not invent this “left-brain-right-brain
theory” – he was building on the ideas of Roger Wolcott Sperry and Michael
Gazzaniga that they put forth in the 1960s.

Advantages & disadvantages of the mapping

method
There are both significant benefits and drawbacks to the mapping method.
Use the method selectively, and you’ll use it well. It’s not a universal
method that should be used for all lectures and subjects.

These are the primary advantages of the mapping method:

 Intra- and inter-relationships between facts and concepts are easily
visible
 Analysing and reviewing mapped notes is efficient
 Mapped notes are easy to edit by adding further branches
 Pictures and colours facilitate memory and appeal to visual learning
styles
 Analysing conceptual relationships allows students to reach
a metacognitive level
On the other hand, these are the main disadvantages of the mapping
method:
 Facts and thoughts can be difficult to distinguish,
 Mapped notes often have to be used alongside other methods, such
as the Cornell method or outline method,
 Requires strong concentration skills,
  Mapping can get overwhelming for complex subjects, and students
can easily miss making all the connections.

Creativity Organization- Organizational creativity has been defined as

"the creation of a valuable, useful new product, service, idea, procedure, or
process by individuals working together in a complex social system".
Organizational creativity has become a popular topic of research and
discussion in recent years.
According to Shalley & Gilson (2004) Organizational creativity refers to the
"process of generating and implementing new ideas, products, services, or
processes within an organization." (p. 33) It is an essential component of
organizational growth and success in today's competitive environment.

Theories that explain organizational creativity can be categorized into three

perspectives: the individual perspective, the social perspective, and the
organizational perspective. The individual perspective emphasizes the role
of individuals in generating and implementing creative ideas.

The social perspective highlights the importance of social interaction and

collaboration in facilitating creativity. The organizational perspective
emphasizes the role of organizational structures and processes in
promoting creativity.

Factors Affecting Organizational Creativity:

Leadership: Effective leadership is critical in promoting organizational

creativity. Leaders need to create a culture that encourages risk-taking,
experimentation, and innovation. They should also provide resources and
support for creative endeavours.
Organizational Culture: The organizational culture plays a significant role
in fostering creativity. A culture that values creativity, encourages
collaboration, and allows for experimentation and risk-taking is more likely
to produce innovative ideas.
Diversity: A diverse workforce can bring a variety of perspectives and
experiences, leading to more creative solutions. Organizations should
strive to create a culture of inclusion that encourages diverse viewpoints.
Organizational Structure: Organizational structure can influence creativity
by facilitating or hindering communication and collaboration. Flat
organizational structures with open communication channels tend to be
more conducive to creativity.
Resources: Adequate resources such as time, funding, and technology are
essential for promoting creativity. Organizations that invest in resources for
creativity tend to have more innovative outcomes.
Training and Development: Training and development programs can
enhance employees' skills and knowledge, leading to more creative
solutions. Organizations should provide training programs that focus on
creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.
Motivation and Rewards: Motivation and rewards play a critical role in
promoting creativity. Employees should be rewarded for their creative
contributions, and recognition should be given for innovative ideas.
Organizational creativity is vital for organizations seeking to compete in
today's dynamic business environment.
This article has highlighted the importance of leadership, organizational
culture, diversity, organizational structure, resources, training and
development, and motivation and rewards in promoting organizational
creativity. HR professionals should explore how organizations can optimize
these factors to enhance creativity and innovation.