Balance Between Creativity and Methodology in Software Projects

Taking into account trends of innovation in economy and increasing interest in applying creativity techniques in computer science, this paper focuses on relationship between creativity and methodology in software project. First, it extracts useful knowledge about creativity from creativity research. Then, it makes an attempt to combine creativity issues and dimensions with concepts from software project area. It presents also lessons learned from analysis of diploma projects in computer science in which students were encouraged to use creativity skills and techniques. Both theoretical analysis on the edge of creativity and methodology and lessons learned show that there is a need to balance creativity and methodology in software project.