Sense-making and creativity in strategic environmental scanning

Abstract

This paper explore an approach of environmental scanning, focusing on the step of analysis of information obtained in the process. The approach treated here, is related to the treatment of qualitative information, anticipative (weak signals or early warning signals). The step of information analysis, is called here sense-making and is confronted with theories and techniques of creativity to explore their contribution to the step of sense-making. A review of creativity theories is first presented and then the contributions of these theories to the environmental scanning processes is explored. From this review and from the association of these theories with the sense-making step, the paper concludes with research propositions.