Share:


“Everything has to be done in the Polish way”: creativity barriers experienced by innovators in a post-Soviet society

    Agnieszka Karpinska   Affiliation

Abstract

Innovators from post-Soviet transition societies experience barriers to creativity different from those experienced by inventors in developed countries. Since there has been little research into this subject so far, this article is an attempt to fill this gap. The aim of the study is to explore the mindset and environmental creativity hurdles experienced by Polish innovators as the representatives of post-Soviet states. The data was collected through individual in-depth interviews. Sixteen innovators from Białystok, a city in the Eastern part of Poland, were interviewed. The findings show that innovators experience both individual and environmental hurdles in their creativity actions. In the case of mindset barriers, the feeling of low self-esteem and lack of appropriate knowledge are listed as the most significant barriers, especially at the beginning of the career. The study has shown that although individual barriers hinder creative work, innovators make successful attempts to overcome them. Environmental blocks, however, have the most detrimental influence on innovators’ creativity and are the most difficult to overcome. Among these barriers innovators mention the characteristics of homo sovieticus mentality, such as informal relations, nepotism, and lack of trust among academics and businesspeople. The study supports the hypothesis that the post-Soviet culture largely determines the low innovation level in Eastern European countries.

Keyword : creativity, environmental barriers, innovation, innovator, mindset barriers, post-Soviet culture

How to Cite
Karpinska, A. (2024). “Everything has to be done in the Polish way”: creativity barriers experienced by innovators in a post-Soviet society. Creativity Studies, 17(2), 601–620. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2024.16646
Published in Issue
Dec 4, 2024
Abstract Views
60
PDF Downloads
42
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Aaker, J., & Schmitt, B. (2001). Culture-dependent assimilation and differentiation of the self: Preferences for consumption symbols in the United States and China. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 32(5), 561–576. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022101032005003

Adams, J. L. (2001). Conceptual blockbusting: A guide to better ideas. Perseus Publishing.

Albers, S. (2011). Diffusion und adoption von innovationen. In S. Albers & O. Gassmann (Hrsg.), Handbuch Technologie- und Innovations-management: Strategie – Umsetzung – Controlling (pp. 437–456). Gabler Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-8349-6746-6_23

Amabile, T. M. (1996). Creativity in context: Update to the social psychology of creativity. Routledge.

Amabile, T. M. (1997). Motivating creativity in organizations: On doing what you love and loving what you do. California Management Review, 40(1), 39–58. https://doi.org/10.2307/41165921

An, Ch. (2019). The content and role of intrinsic motivation in creative work: The importance of seeking “Enjoyment”. Creativity Studies, 12(2), 280–290. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2019.6451

Anderson, N., Potočnik, K., & Zhou, J. (2014). Innovation and creativity in organizations: A state-of-the-science review, prospective commentary, and guiding framework. Journal of Management, 40(5), 1297–1333. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206314527128

Apanasovich, N. (2016). Modes of innovation: A grounded meta-analysis. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 7, 720–737. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-014-0237-0

Apanasovich, N., Alcalde Heras, H., & Parrilli, M. D. (2016). The impact of business innovation modes on SME innovation performance in Post-Soviet transition economies: The case of Belarus. Technovation, 57–58, 30–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2016.05.001

Archer, M. S. (2000). Being human: The problem of agency. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511488733

Archer, M. S. (1996). Culture and agency: The place of culture in social theory. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511557668

Archer, M. S. (2003). Structure, agency and the internal conversation. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139087315

Aven, P. O. (1992). Economic reform in bargaining economy. In J. M. Kovács & M. Tardos (Eds.), Reform and transformation in Eastern Europe: Soviet-type economics on the threshold of change (pp. 114–124). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203167694.ch8

Baumann, Th., Mantay, K., Swanger, A., Saganski, G., & Stepke, S. (2016). Education and innovation management: A contradiction? How to manage educational projects if innovation is crucial for success and innovation management is mostly unknown. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 226, 243–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.06.185

Bennis, W. (1989). On becoming a leader. Basic Books.

Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. SAGE Publications.

Breen, B. (2004). The 6 myths of creativity. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/51559/6-myths-creativity

Cardoso de Sousa, F., Nunes, F., & Pardal Monteiro, I. (2019). Managers’ attitudes to creativity and innovation practices in the creative industries. Tourism and Management Studies, 15(1S), 33–41. https://doi.org/10.18089/tms.2019.15SI04

Cho, R. L. T., Liu, J. S., & Ho, M. H.-Ch. (2018). What are the concerns? Looking back on 15 years of research in cultural and creative industries. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 24(1), 25–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2015.1128417

Ciborowski, R. (2014). Instrumenty polityki innowacyjnej Unii Europejskiej i ich wpływ na działalność proinnowacyjną przedsiębiorstw. Optimum: Studia Ekonomiczne, 6(72), 62–78. https://doi.org/10.15290/ose.2014.06.72.05

Crouch, M., & McKenzie, H. (2006). The logic of small samples in interview-based qualitative research. Social Science Information, 45(4), 483–499. https://doi.org/10.1177/0539018406069584

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1988). Society, culture, and person: A systems view of creativity. In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.), The nature of creativity: Contemporary psychological perspectives (pp. 325–339). Cambridge University Press.

Dutta, S., Lanvin, B., Rivera León, L., & Wunsch-Vincent, S. (Eds.). (2021). Global innovation index 2021: Tracking innovation through the COVID-19 crisis. World Intellectual Property Organization.

Dziewit, W. (2021). Polskie startupy 2021. Fundacja Startup Poland.

Erez, M., & Nouri, R. (2010). Creativity: The influence of cultural, social, and work contexts. Management and Organization Review, 6(3), 351–370. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8784.2010.00191.x

European Commission. (2019). 2019 innovation scoreboards: The innovation performance of the EU and its regions is increasing. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/document/print/en/ip_19_2991/IP_19_2991_EN.pdf

European Commission. (2001). Innovation scoreboard 2001. European Commission, Enterprise DG, Innovation Directorate, Communication and Awareness Unit.

European Commission. (2017). European Innovation Scoreboard 2017. Publications Office of the European Union.

European Commission. (2018). European Innovation Scoreboard 2018. Publications Office of the European Union.

European Commission. (2020). European Innovation Scoreboard 2020. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/document/print/en/qanda_20_1150/QANDA_20_1150_EN.pdf

European Commission. (2021). European Innovation Scoreboard: Innovation performance keeps improving in EU Member States and Regions. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/document/print/en/ip_21_3048/IP_21_3048_EN.pdf

European Commission: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. (2016). Better regulations for innovation-driven investment at EU Level. Commission Staff Working Document. Publications Office of the European Union.

Fox, J. M., & Fox, R. L. (2019). Exploring the nature of creativity. Kendall Hunt Publishing.

Freeman, Ch. (1987). Technology policy and economic performance: Lessons from Japan. Pinter Publishers.

Freeman, Ch. (1975). The economics of industrial innovation. Penguin Books.

Gajda, A., Karwowski, M., & Beghetto, R. A. (2017). Creativity and academic achievement: A meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 109(2), 269–299. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000133

Gasz, M. (2015). Kierunki zmian w polityce innowacji w Polsce i Unii Europejskiej. Studia Ekonomiczne: Zeszyty Naukowe, 214, 216–227.

Gaut, B. (2010). The philosophy of creativity. Philosophy Compass, 5(12), 1034–1046. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-9991.2010.00351.x

Geroski, P., & Walters, Ch. (1995). Innovative activity over the business cycle. Economic Journal, 105(431), 916–928. https://doi.org/10.2307/2235158

Gibson, D. L. (2005). Hurdling creativity barriers: A top-down approach for encouraging innovation in the workplace. Leadership Advance Online, 5. https://www.regent.edu/journal/leadership-advance-online/hurdling-creativity-barriers-encouraging-workplace-innovation/

Godin, B. (2008). Innovation: The history of a category (Project on the Intellectual History of Innovation. Working Paper No. 1). https://www.csiic.ca/PDF/IntellectualNo1.pdf

Godin, B. (2006). The linear model of innovation: The historical construction of an analytical framework. Science, Technology, and Human Values, 31(6), 639–667. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162243906291865

Greffe, X. (2016). From culture to creativity and the creative economy: A new agenda for cultural economics. City, Culture and Society, 7(2), 71–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccs.2015.12.008

Gryskiewicz, S. S. (1999). Positive turbulence: Developing climates for creativity, innovation, and renewal. Jossey-Bass.

Henriksen, D. (2019). Expanding the paradigm: Bringing designerly perspectives into creativity scholarship. Creativity Studies, 12(1), 15–33. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2019.6757

Howell, J. M., & Avolio, B. J. (1993). Transformational leadership, transactional leadership, locus of control, and support for innovation: Key predictors of consolidated-business-unit performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78(6), 891–902. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.78.6.891

Hölzl, W., & Janger, J. (2012). Innovation barriers across firms and countries (WIFO Working Papers. No. 426). https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/128992/1/wp_426.pdf

Jasiński, A. H. (2013). Instrumenty polityki innowacyjnej. Czy grają w Polsce? Zagadnienia Naukoznawstwa, 1(195), 3–23.

Kaliszczak, L., & Rabiej, E. (2021). Innowacyjność regionów w Polsce – stan i uwarunkowania. Nierówności Społeczne a Wzrost Gospodarczy, 68(4), 114–131. https://doi.org/10.15584/nsawg.2021.4.6

Karnowski, V. (2011). Konzepte. Ansätze der Medien- und Kommunikationswissenschaft. Diffusionstheorien (Vol. 6). P. Rössler & H.-B. Brosius (Eds.). Nomos.

Karpińska, A. (2020). Innovation and science dilemmas. Unintended consequences of innovation policy for science: Polish experience. Cogent Social Sciences, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2020.1718055

Karpińska, A. (2014). Innovation studies in the perspective of constructivist model of epistemology. Roczniki Nauk Społecznych, 42(4), 53–80. https://doi.org/10.18290/rns.2017.35.3-14

Kristeller, P. O. (1983). “Creativity” and “Tradition”. Journal of the History of Ideas, 44(1), 105–113. https://doi.org/10.2307/2709307

Lašáková, A., Bajzíková, L., & Dedze, I. (2017). Barriers and drivers of innovation in higher education: Case study-based evidence across ten European universities. International Journal of Educational Development, 55, 69–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2017.06.002

Ledeneva, A. V. (1998). Cambridge Russian, Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies. Russia’s economy of favours: Blat. Networking and Informal Exchange. Cambridge University Press.

Leder, A. (2022). Kraina podwójnego języka. Polityka, 7(3350), 20–23.

Leder, A. (2014). Seria Historyczna. Prześniona rewolucja. Ćwiczenie z logiki historycznej. Wydawnictwo Krytyka Polityczna.

Leonard, J. (2023). Socially constructed barriers to innovation. Business2Community. https://www.business2community.com/business-innovation/socially-constructed-barriers-innovation-01776718

Liamputtong Rice, P., & Ezzy, D. (1999). Qualitative research methods: A health focus. Oxford University Press.

Lin, N. (2003). Structural analysis in the social sciences. Social capital: A theory of social structure and action (Vol. 19). Cambridge University Press.

Loewe, Ph. (2010). Enacting rural sociology: Or what are the creativity claims of the engaged sciences? Sociologia Ruralis: Journal of the European Society for Rural Sociology, 50(4), 311–330. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9523.2010.00522.x

Loewe, P., & Dominiquini, J. (2006). Overcoming the barriers to effective innovation. Strategy and Leadership, 34(1), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1108/10878570610637858

Lundvall, B.-Å. (2016). The learning economy and the economics of hope. Anthem Press. https://doi.org/10.26530/OAPEN_626406

Manta, A. (2018). Demystifying creativity: An assemblage perspective towards artistic creativity. Creativity Studies, 11(1), 85–101. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2018.542

Marnin-Distelfeld, Sh., & Dorchin, U. (2020). “I am not an artist, I make art”: Amateurish artists in Israel and the sense of creativity. Creativity Studies, 13(1), 64–86. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2020.9907

Mayer, C.-H., & Oosthuizen, R. M. (2020). Concepts of creative leadership of women leaders in 21st Century. Creativity Studies, 13(1), 21–40. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2020.10267

Mażewska, M., Bąkowski, A., & Rudawska, J. (2021). Ośrodki innowacji i przedsiębiorczości w Polsce. Raport z badania 2021. Stowarzyszenie Organizatorów Ośrodków Innowacji i Przedsiębiorczości w Polsce.

Michalko, M. (2001). Cracking creativity: The secrets of creative genius. Ten Speed Press.

Miettinen, R. (2013). Innovation, human capabilities, and democracy: Towards an enabling Welfare State. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199692613.001.0001

Miettinen, R. (2002). National innovation system: Scientific concept or political rhetoric. Edita.

Miłek, D., & Mistachowicz, M. (2019). Ocena innowacyjności polskiej gospodarki na tle krajów Unii Europejskiej. Nierówności Społeczne a Wzrost Gospodarczy, 59(3), 61–82. https://doi.org/10.15584/nsawg.2019.3.4

Mrozowicki, A. (2011). Coping with social change: Life strategies of workers in Poland’s new capitalism. Leuven University Press.

Mumford, M. D. (Ed.). (2012). Handbook of organizational creativity. Elsevier.

Mytelka, L. K., & Smith, K. (2002). Policy learning and innovation theory: An interactive and co-evolving process. Research Policy, 31(8–9), 1467–1479. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(02)00076-8

Nelson, R. R. (1996). National innovation systems: A retrospective on a study. In G. Dosi & F. Malerba (Eds.), Organization and strategy in the evolution of the enterprise (pp. 381–409). Macmillan Press Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13389-5_17

Ngọc Trung, N., Thị Hoài Lê, N., Viết Hồi, T., & Kim, W. J. (2021). Self-assessment to subjective creativity and new ideas: Determinant within risk taking, autonomy and tradition. Creativity Studies, 14(2), 362–375. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2021.13991

Niosi, J. (2002). National systems of innovations are “X-Efficient” (and X-Effective): Why some are slow learners. Research Policy, 31(2), 291–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(01)00142-1

Novikova, K. (2015). Informal networking as effective resource and sociocultural traditions of Homo Sovieticus, Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczo-Humanistycznego w Siedlcach. Seria: Administracja i Zarządzanie, 104, 187–194.

Novikova, K. (2011). Where does the social network capital end and informal corrupting connections begin? Post-Soviet practices in the internet era. In S. Burdziej & J. Szalacha (Eds.), Zakulisowe Studia Społeczne. Conflict of interest in Central and Eastern Europe. A. Zybertowicz (General Ed.) (pp. 145–163). Zysk i S-ka Wydawnictwo.

Novikova, K., & Wiśniewska, M. (2017). Twórczość a innowacja w świetle wybranych koncepcji w naukach społecznych i humanistycznych. Journal of Modern Science, 3(34), 59–78. https://doi.org/10.13166/jms/76999

Okoń-Horodyńska, E. (2012). Małopolska Regionalna Strategia Innowacji: Kolejne wyciskanie “brukselki” czy szansa na ambitną politykę rozwoju? Malopolska Strategia Rozwoju, 1–2, 9–26.

Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2010). Measuring innovation: A new perceptivity. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/9789264059474-en.pdf?expires=1732608980&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=E1C959AB5B86B530898AC3A770905DAD

Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development; Eurostat. (2018). The measurement of scientific, technological and innovation activities. Oslo Manual 2018: Guidelines for collecting, reporting and using data on innovation. OECD Publishing/Eurostat.

Osieczko, K., & Stec, S. (2019). Poziom innowacyjności gospodarki Polski na tle krajów Unii Europejskiej. Zarządzanie Innowacyjne w Gospodarce i Biznesie, 2(29), 79–91. https://doi.org/10.25312/2391-5129.29/2019_05koss

Pellegrino, G., & Savona, M. (2017). No money, no honey? Financial versus knowledge and demand constraints on innovation. Research Policy, 46(2), 510–521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2017.01.001

Pereira Cabral, B., Lage de Sousa, F., & Canêdo-Pinheiro, M. (2020). Assessing the impacts of innovation barriers: A qualitative analysis of Brazil’s natural resources industry. Resources Policy, 68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101736

Prichard, C. (2002). Creative selves? Critically reading “Creativity” in management discourse. Creativity and Innovation Management, 11(4), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8691.00258

Putnam, R. D., Leonardi, R., & Nonetti, R. Y. (1993). Making democracy work: Civic traditions in modern Italy. Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7s8r7

Quinn Patton, M. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Sage Publications, Inc.

Radosevic, S. (1999). Transformation of science and technology systems into systems of innovation in Central and Eastern Europe: The emerging patterns and determinants. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 10(3–4), 277–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0954-349X(99)00016-8

Radosevic, S., & Auriol, L. (1999). Patterns of restructuring in research, development and innovation activities in Central and Eastern European Countries: An analysis based on S&T indicators. Research Policy, 28(4), 351–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(98)00124-3

Robins Sadler, G., Lee, H.-Ch., Lim, R. S.-H., & Fullerton, J. (2010). Recruitment of hard-to-reach population subgroups via adaptations of the snowball sampling strategy. Nursing and Health Sciences, 12(3), 369–374. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2010.00541.x

Roundy, Ph. T., & Evans, W. R. (2018). Offering a “Hand-Up” rather than a “Handout”? Ethical challenges in employment-based social entrepreneurship. Journal of Ethics and Entrepreneurship, 8(1), 11–35.

Runco, M. A. (2007). Creativity. Theories and themes: Research, development, and practice. Elsevier.

Sawyer, R. K. (2012). Explaining creativity: The science of human innovation. Oxford University Press.

Soriano de Alencar, E. M. L. (1999). Barreiras à criatividade pessoal: desenvolvimento de um instrumento de medida. Psicologia Escolar e Educacional, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-85571999000200002

Souto, J. E., & Rodriguez, A. (2015). The problems of environmentally involved firms: Innovation obstacles and essential issues in the achievement of environmental innovation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 101, 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.04.017

Starko, A. J. (2014). Creativity in the classroom: Schools of curious delight. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203115176

Stojčić, N., Srhoj, S., & Coad, A. (2020). Innovation procurement as capability-building: Evaluating innovation policies in Eight Central and Eastern European countries. European Economic Review, 121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2019.103330

Szambelan, S. M., & Jiang, Y. D. (2020). Effectual control orientation and innovation performance: Clarifying implications in the corporate context. Small Business Economics, 54, 865–882. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-019-00156-7

Szopik-Depczyńska, K., Cheba, K., Bąk, I., Kędzierska-Szczepaniak, A., Szczepaniak, K., & Ioppolo, G. (2020). Innovation level and local development of EU regions: A new assessment approach. Land Use Policy, 99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104837

Vesshoff, J. (2010). Kundenintegration im Innovationsprozess: Eine kompetenztheoretische Analyse am Beispiel der Automobilindustrie. Verlag Dr. Kovač.

Voiklis, J., Barchas-Lichtenstein, J., LaMarca, N., Grace Thomas, U., & Field, Sh. (2020). Public perceptions of inventors and their work. https://www.datocms-assets.com/15254/1596135227-invention-stereotype-reportweb2020-07-29.pdf

Wich, U. (2017). Innowacyjność Polski w ocenie Unii Europejskiej i z perspektywy regionów. Annales Oeconomia. Sectio H: Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Sklodowska. Lublin – Polonia, 51(1), 101–111. https://doi.org/10.17951/h.2017.51.1.101

Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. (2024). Białystok. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bia%C5%82ystok

Wissema, J. G. (2005). Technostarterzy. Dlaczego i jak? Polska Agencja Rozwoju Przedsiębiorczości.

Zehler, A. M., Adger, C., Coburn, C., Arteagoitia, I., Williams, K., & Jacobson, L. (2008). Preparing to serve English language learner students: School districts with emerging English language learner communities. Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) 2008. No. 049. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED501965.pdf

Zienkowski, L. (2008). Czy kapitał wiedzy oddziałuje na wzrost gospodarczy – spojrzenie ekonomisty. Przegląd Socjologiczny, 57(3), 9–23.

Žydžiūnaitė, V., & Arce, A. (2021). Being an innovative and creative teacher: Passion-driven professional duty. Creativity Studies, 14(1), 125–144. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2021.14087