Creative Entrepreneurship and the McKinsey 7S Framework: Utilizing a Servant Leadership Style

The generation of business ideas for new products and/or services occurs through the creative process. For example, an entrepreneur will initially have a business idea for a new product or service that is generated in the mind. However, the idea needs to be successfully and strategically executed to become a sustainable reality. This research provides a variety of examples concerning conceptualizations of creativity that entrepreneurs can tap into to further enhance their creative abilities for business ideation measures. Further highlights include the psychological impediments that entrepreneurs need to be aware of and avoid that can stall the entrepreneurial process and the business from successfully launching and sustaining life long-term. Lastly, the similarities of the McKinsey 7s framework (Peters & Waterman, 2004) and the servant leadership style (Greenleaf, 1977) are provided that show how “putting the people first” instead of focusing solely on strategy and hard numbers is a more formidable entrepreneurial approach to practice.