Research conducted by the Institute's academic staff and students addresses the following key strands:
This strand explores a variety of perspectives on creativity and idea generation, such as the psychological and environmental influences on the creative process, and the practical application of creativity tools and techniques including those developed by Professor Edward de Bono.
Creativity is studied in a variety of contexts, and relates to several research topics, including the following:
Creativity and problem solving
Creativity and learning in the workplace
Barriers to creativity in the workplace
Change management and creativity
Organisational structures and creativity
Organisational culture and creativity
Creativity and leadership
Creativity in education
Creativity in the creative industries
Creativity and the arts
Creative cities (including Valletta 2018
Creativity in virtual worlds
Creativity, mental health and psychopathology.
This strand explores innovation and innovation management in a variety of contexts. Academics and students look at how innovation can thrive within all types of organisations, and what distinguishes an organisation that fosters innovation from another where the status quo is taken to be acceptable. Research topics addressed under this strand include the following:
Idea management and organisational innovation (including capabilities for innovation and absorptive capacities)
Innovation in organisations that have an R&I Department
Research and innovation policy systems - dynamics and interactions
Innovation in public policy and governance
Innovation management in different sectors
Open innovation (including crowdsourcing, innovation brokers, and lead user innovation)
Innovation and new digital technologies (including innovation diffusion)
Cultural heritage and innovation
Environmental innovation / Eco Innovation
Green cities
Service innovation
KIBS (Knowledge Intensive Business Services)
Social Innovation
Innovation in NGOs, charities and state-funded entities
This strand explores the processes of entrepreneurship in the identification, evaluation and exploitation of opportunities in new and existing organisations. Entrepreneurship is studied from a variety of perspectives, and relates to several research topics, including the following:
Business failure - causes, coping and consequences
Foresight is a field of knowledge characterized by interdisciplinary knowledge. Foresight may focus on visionary knowledge regarding alternative futures and the challenges present within them. Futures research offers futures-oriented information to back up decision-making in the public and private sectors. Research topics addressed under this strand include the following:
Application of foresight methods (including Horizon Scanning, Delphi, etc.) in different contexts
Foresight exercises in different settings (e.g., in Higher Education Institutions, in Health Care Institutions, etc.)
Foresight exercises in different sectors (e.g., ICT, biotechnology, etc.)
Foresight and low carbon transitions
The role of stakeholder participation and engagement in foresight exercises
Evaluating the outputs of a foresight exercise (tangible and intangible benefits)
The role of crowdsourcing in future-oriented processes
The challenges in the use and application of scenario analysis in future studies
Critical thinking as an area of study explores a variety of perspectives including how to make well-reasoned arguments based on the understanding and evaluation of information.
Critical thinking is studied in a variety of contexts, and relates to several research topics, including the following:
Critical thinking and its relationship with creativity
Critical thinking and learning in the workplace
Critical thinking and learning across the educational journey
Barriers to critical thinking
Perceptions and challenges in teaching critical thinking strategies
Educational structures and their influence on critical thinking
