Individual and Organizational Factors Influencing the Creativity and Innovation of Hospital Managers in Karaj City

  Hospitals as one of the most important organizations in the service sector of Iran need creative and innovative managers to survive. We need such managers in today's turbulent environment. In order to have creative and innovative managers, appropriate contexts are required to enable the growth of ideas and bring them to the implementation phase. The aim of this study was to investigate the individual and organizational factors affecting the creativity and innovation of the managers of hospitals in Karaj city, Iran. The present cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitals of Karaj city, Iran. The sample size consisted of 63 senior managers of public and private hospitals in Karaj using census method. Data were collected by standard questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS 16. The most important individual factor affecting managers' creativity was tolerance of ambiguity (having doubt and indecision) in dealing with issues (mean score = 1.73). The most important organizational factor affecting the creativity of managers was decentralization of hospital structure with the mean score of 1.76. Moreover, the most important individual factor affecting managers 'innovation was patience in implementing their new ideas with a mean score of 1.24.  The most important organizational factor in this regard was the flexibility of the payroll system with a mean score of 1.54. In order to promote the creativity of managers, more authority should be delegated to them. They also should attend the creative thinking courses. Furthermore, the payroll systems should be based on creativity. In order to promote innovation, innovative managers should be supported and appreciated with appropriate material and moral rewards.