Creativity in Military Complexity: Design, Disruptors and Defence Forces

31 Jan 2025

Professor Cara Wrigley and Dr Murray Simons have released a groundbreaking new book that explores the urgent need for creativity and innovation in contemporary military thought.

Published by Routledge in December 2024, Creativity in Military Complexity: Design, Disruptors and Defence Forces examines the evolving nature of global conflicts and the crucial need for defence forces to adapt to increasingly complex challenges.

Professor Wrigley and Dr Simons met in 2016 while Professor Wrigley was teaching at the Australian Defence College in Canberra. Drawn together by a shared passion for exploring the intersection of design, innovation and military education, they embarked on a collaborative research journey that continues to this day.

“Our book aims to analyse and unpack the mentalities and practices that either encourage or hinder the capacity for creative thinking and change within military institutions,” says Professor Wrigley, Professor of Design in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning at UQ.

“Together, we have sought to bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and the practical realities faced by Western militaries in their efforts to innovate.”

The collaboration and resulting book draw on both Professor Wrigley’s academic and design leadership in the Defence sector, and Dr Simons’ direct military experience. Professor Wrigley is a globally recognised expert in design and innovation who has taught and facilitated design throughout the Australian Defence Force, while Dr Simons is the Chief of Air Force Fellow at the Australian Defence Force Academy and a serving Military Officer. 

Through introspective reflections and real-world case studies, the book presents practical insights into how Defence forces can foster adaptive, forward-thinking mindsets that are crucial for navigating the complexities of modern warfare. This is examined through the following themes, each addressing different dimensions of military creativity and its potential for transformative impact:

  • Systems Theory explores how military systems are inherently complex and interconnected, with the aim of understanding how innovation can be integrated within such systems. It emphasises the need for a systems thinking approach to navigate the challenges of complexity and change in Defence organisations.
     
  • Military Design Thinking looks at the concept of design thinking as a methodology for creatively approaching military challenges. It emphasises the application of design thinking principles to military strategy, operations, and problem-solving, highlighting its potential to break through conventional thinking.
     
  • Nurturing Creative Mindsets explores how creativity often flourishes when individuals and teams are supported by an environment that values innovation. This theme investigates the factors that can help nurture creative mindsets within military personnel, focusing on leadership, culture and education as crucial enablers of creative thinking.
     
  • Military Organisational Constraints and Conditions looks at how military organisations, while structured for discipline and efficiency, often face significant barriers to innovation due to internal constraints, rigid hierarchies and ingrained practices. This theme examines how such conditions can either support or stifle creative thinking and how Defence forces can overcome these obstacles to foster innovation.

The book concludes with proposing new directions for fostering creativity in the military. It considers emerging trends, the impact of disruptive technologies, and how military forces can adapt to new challenges by embracing innovative mindsets and strategies.
Professor Wrigley says these themes are critical to investigate because they address the complex interplay between creativity and structure within Defence forces.

“While military organisations often operate under high levels of uncertainty and require rapid, adaptive responses, their entrenched practices and organisational cultures can limit their ability to innovate,” she says.

“Understanding the dynamics of creativity in such a complex environment is essential for military leaders and policymakers who seek to improve adaptability, resilience and effectiveness in the face of rapidly evolving global threats and challenges.”

Creativity in Military Complexity will be launched at Canberra’s Australian Defence Force Headquarters in 2025.
 

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