The cost of new ideas

Existing research provides extensive advice on how firms can stimulate the generation of ideas, but there is limited research on the potential psychological consequences of idea generation and brainstorming for the people who actively engage in this process. Moreover, theories of counterfactual thinking and comparative evaluation, lead to competing predictions about the downstream consequences of idea generation. Some perspectives would suggest idea generation should lead to an increase in satisfaction with the status quo, while others suggest the opposite. In this paper, I empirically reconcile these competing perspectives to propose that new ideas can serve as upward counterfactuals to experiences, possessions, or organizations, which then make those experiences, possessions, or organizations seem worse by comparison. I conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of these findings for future research on the consequences of idea generation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Business Administration

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Katz, Joshua H

Contributors dc:contributor

• Goncalo, Jack
• Loewenstein, Jeffrey
• Lewin Loyd, Denise
• Ferguson, Melissa

• Creativity, Evaluation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2021 Joshua Katz

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/110423

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/110423