Contrary to expectations, a study of creativity enhancing software showed that user creativity declined when using the software on an analysis task. Software increased the number of alternatives, but independent judges determined that these were less original or inventive than those produced without the software. These findings were consistent for both ‘highly creative’ and ‘less creative’ groups. Computer technology is an added variable that can interact to inhibit creativity in a moderately complex case analysis task. Creativity inducing software appears to need further development before it can contribute meaningfully to improving decision support systems.
