Creativity and Rules

Today, we have a class discussion about Rule and Creativity. I think that the topic is very interesting since initial perception of everybody about creativity maybe about thinking freely without any constraints. Creativity should be best without any rules. However, it turn out that without rules and constraints, it's harder for us to be creative.
Part of the reasons maybe because without rules, the possibility is limitless and we will be lost and get no guidance. I believe that it's true so we have to create some constraints to limit those freedom. In some case, constraints can be something that is very common and general like budget, tool that you use, your preference, technology, science, customer needs, tradition and norm, etc. We can think about it all day long.

Speaking of constraints and creativity, it reminded me about the article that I read several months ago about the innovation at Apple. Like what we discussed to day, perception about innovation in the organization should come from free thinking and letting people have a change to explore in their fields of interest. It's true and now happening in the company like Google which have create tons of successful project from letting their people work freely. However, Apple tear those concept and do something that completely contradict to the free concept.
Apple is one of the most innovative company in the world as we know. According to the article, the innovations in Apple don't come from freedom but they come from tight and strict rules, leading from visionary leader, and forced time schedule.

So this give us a whole new perspective on looking at the way innovation and creativity work in the business environment. It depends on the organization that we work for some may like to have freedom to think but some may want a hard push from management level to innovation its product or process