Playing at work: professionals' conceptions of the functions of play on organizational creativity

The notions of creativity consultants on how play promotes workplace creativity was investigated. Play is often used by creativity trainers to promote creative performance. Seventeen experienced professionals were interviewed. The informants considered play to facilitate group creativity by increasing openness, intrinsic motivation and collaboration. Play was encouraged by permission to play, that leaders demonstrated playfulness, a certain degree of structure and that the activity was matched to the group. Play was discouraged by a stressful, fun-phobic organization and when play was non-voluntary. The use of competition and seriousness in play was controversial.