Entrepreneur Pixabay
A creative buzz and big ideas have long been associated with innovation, but new research shows that simple hard work is the most important factor to successful innovation.
A study by Dr Neil Lee from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) reveals that “boring cities with conscientious, focused residents” may outperform more exciting places which attract ambitious, outgoing personalities.
Using data from 400,000 people surveyed in a BBC personality test, Dr Lee shows how the local personality traits can influence innovation.
While most people associate innovation with creativity and openness to new ideas, Dr Lee’s research shows that places which score highly on the personality trait of conscientiousness – associated with hard work, task completion and being organised – have higher rates of patenting. This includes towns and cities such as Newbury, Oxford, Reading and Cambridge.
While creativity is normally seen as vital for innovation, it is often more important to have a conscientious attitude, an organised mind and the ability to complete tasks, Dr Lee finds.
For more information
Dr Neil Lee, n.d.lee@lse.ac.uk or Candy Gibson, LSE media relations office, 020 7955 7440 or c.gibson@lse.ac.uk