Creativity

Creativity in technology innovation arises from interaction in social systems. One person cannot be creative alone.We should study technology innovation as the ways that creative minds interact with others to facilitate and take advantage of creativity. To show the importance of interaction in complex technologies, my paper looks at technologies that are more complex than a single individual can fathom. The creation of complex technologies

requires a combination of complementary disciplines. This article describes a group of creative engineers that use three knowledge breakthroughs in different fields to construct two technologies for floating off-loading and production of oil. Social network analysis reveals how nested networks of industries, organizations, and individuals contribute opportunities and resources to complete the innovations. The firms where these innovations take place are located onthe fringe of the oil industry, and not immersed in existing technological paradigms. The initiators and their closest collaborators have careers that span several firms in different fields in shipping and oil activities. These networks embrace all sectors of the oil supply industry. The initiators have direct links to all the firms that supplythe fundamental knowledge. They and their connections mobilize all the necessary resources to complete and install the innovations at oil fields, altogether 113 people in 32 organizations.