Making it up as we go: A conceptual model of improvisation in organizations

This paper focuses on individuals' improvisation in organizations. The extant literature in this area examines improvisation as either a predictor or an outcome variable. However, there is still considerable confusion about the essence of improvisation and its individual-level determinants. To...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of organization theory and behavior 2013-03, Vol.16 (3), p.393-430
Main Authors: Zarankin, Tal G, Wang, Shu
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:This paper focuses on individuals' improvisation in organizations. The extant literature in this area examines improvisation as either a predictor or an outcome variable. However, there is still considerable confusion about the essence of improvisation and its individual-level determinants. To address these deficiencies, we discuss the differences between improvisation, creativity, and intuition, integrating insights and theories from those fields. Then, we propose a comprehensive model describing a process that includes contextual and individual level variables, which leads to improvisation. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our model and suggest avenues for future research.
ISSN:1093-4537
1532-4273
DOI:10.1108/IJOTB-16-03-2013-B005