Title: Innovation preferences and framing effects: comparing East and West

Authors: Rob Dew, Greg Hearn

Addresses: Brisbane Graduate School of Business, L4 B Block 2 George Street, Brisbane, Australia. ' Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove 4057, Australia

Abstract: This study investigates how individuals with different cultural backgrounds respond to decisions involving innovation and framing effects. The results suggest that South East Asians have significantly different preferences for innovation than individuals from non-Asian cultural backgrounds. However, framing effects seem to apply equivalently to both Asians and non-Asians. The study analysed responses from 146 university students and professional managers to 25 binary choices involving investment decisions, job choices and travel routes. The questions were constructed to reveal significant reversals of preference related to risk and attribute-based framing effects. Additionally, some questions were constructed to reveal preferences for certain operational aspects of creativity. Overall, the results suggest that framing effects may provide an important tool for unlocking individual creativity in organisations, as long as culture and context are carefully taken into account.

Keywords: creativity management; creative motivation; framing effects; cultural backgrounds; South East Asians; non-Asians; eastern cultures; western cultures; innovation preferences; university students; professional managers; binary choices; investment decisions; job choices; travel routes; risk; attribute framing; entrepreneurship; innovation management; open innovation; collaboration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2010.032265

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2010 Vol.11 No.4, pp.398 - 418

Published online: 19 Mar 2010 *

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