Annotated

Bibliography Creativity and Play

July 10, 2011 Christopher Schoenherr

Play In Work: Childish Hedonism Or Adult Enthusiasm?

Abramis, D. J. Play in work: Childish hedonism or adult enthusiasm? American Behavioral Scientist 33, no. 3 (1990): 353 373.
This is a rather interesting look at the research of several theorists about the concept of play in the workplace. The author suggests that although play and work are clearly different to most people, their definitions are beginning to overlap. Research suggests that the experimental framing of a task as play may yield more creative process. This article acknowledges the range of research on the subject.

Creativity and Play: A Systematic Approach to Managing Innovation.

Anderson, Joseph V. "Creativity and play: A systematic approach to managing innovation." Business Horizons 37, no. 2 (March 1994): 80. Business Source Elite, EBSCOhost (accessed July 9, 2011).
This article is a rather unique look at the structure of play. The author states that the essence of play depends on two different elements, safety and stimulation. When the author refers to safety, he means that people can feel free to be creative without judgment. Stimulation refers to the rush of adrenaline that wakes up the brain.

The Google Way: How One Company is Revolutionizing Management as We Know It.
Girard, Bernard. The Google Way: How One Company Is Revolutionizing Management As We Know It. San Francisco: No Starch Press, 2009.
This book provides an inside look into the famed radical management style of Google. Internally Google has a very innovative style. They provide gourmet meals, yoga and pilates classes for employees, have a pool on the premises, and even allow employees to bring their dogs to work. More importantly, they are constantly seeking out the brightest candidates, and they support a more democratic work environment.

The Power of Play: Fostering Creativity and Innovation in Libraries.

Kurt, Lisa. The power of play: Fostering creativity and innovation in libraries. Journal of Library Innovation 1, no. 1 (2010).
This article from The Journal of Library Innovation is about why libraries should, and how libraries can incorporate an environment of creativity and organizational play for their employees. The authors spend a great deal of time discussing the various definitions of the word play and also discuss several successful and innovative companies such as Pixar and Google that create work environments that inspire creativity.