Theatrical improvisation: Lessons for organizations
Abstract
This article uses the improvisational theatre metaphor to examine the performance implications of improvisational processes in firms. We recognize similarities and differences between the concepts of performance and success in both theatre and organizations, and extract three main lessons from improvisational theatre that can be applied to organizational improvisation. In the first lesson, we start by recognizing the equivocal and unpredictable nature of improvisation. The second lesson emphasizes that good improvisational theatre arises because its main focus, in contrast to the focus of firms, is more on the process of improvising and less on the outcomes of improvisation. Lastly, in the third lesson, we look at the theatre techniques of ‘agreement’, ‘awareness’, ‘use of ready-mades’, and ‘collaboration’, and translate them into concepts that are relevant for organizations in developing an improvisational capability.
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When improvisational activity involves some degree of innovation, it happens when the activity goes beyond the automatic repetition of an existing routine.
“When the improvisational activity involves some degree of innovation, happens when the activity goes beyond the automatic repetition of an existing routine (Vera & Crossan, 2004).”
From Linking knowledge management, organizational learning and memory (2020) · cites this paper as Vera & Crossan, 2004
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- Authors
- Vera, D., & Crossan, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Houston (US)
- Western University (CA)
- Venue
- Organization Studies
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2004-06
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 727-749
- ISSN
- 0170-8406 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-3044
- OpenAlex
- W2052817658
- Cited by
- 369
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 13.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Organization Studies (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Innovation and Knowledge Management
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Visual Arts and Performing Arts › Theatre and Performance Studies
- Keywords
- organizational improvisation, improvisational theatre, organizational performance, dramatic technique, agreement, awareness, readymades, collaboration, organizational learning
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