how we do it - Kirton Adaption and Innovation Inventory

This is a inventory that measures an individual's preferred cognitive style ( ie the processes that lead to successful manifestation of creativity, problem-solving and decision-taking) and is a useful language in which to explain differences in working practices and comfort levels, especially in relation to the need for structure. It enables individuals to see how they differ in the way they approach, define and solve problems.

KAI is particularly useful with teams, making clear to each member the range of diversity (including style) that needs to be understood and well used for the benefit of the whole team. The team needs to know and share openly that all the differences available within the team, whatever sort, can be of vital value in the resolution of an equally wide range of problems, if, and only if, the team’s members can manage such diversity well. Such management, Kirton argues, underlies all successful resolution of the many, complex problems successful teams need to master

The Deva Partnership Ltd were early adopters of this breakthrough approach by Dr. Michael Kirton and were involved in trials as far back as 1982. His ability to produce an instrument which differentiates between cognitive style and capacity is in keeping with the DEVA view that everyone is creative and simply manifests their creativity in a different way. During the past ten years, the core members of the DEVA Partnership have administered thousands of these inventories and keep in touch with Dr. Kirton with regard to the most up-to-date usage and development.

This inventory and the one that follows have the added advantage of having been reviewed by the British Psychological Society's Steering Committee on Tests and Standards at level B.

Text approved by Dr. Michael Kirton. www.kaicentre.com