Learning the Art of Business Improvisation

Abstract

This article discusses findings from a study on improvisation in product development projects and how managers can create a team environment conducive to improvisation. In general terms, improvisation is the ability to create and implement a new or an unplanned solution in the face of an unexpected problem or change. It is often seen as a spontaneous, intuitive, creative problem-solving behavior. The authors of this article examined project and team characteristics related to improvisation practices in product development, software development, and the implementation of software projects. They found that projects with extreme changes in requirements (90% or more changes) employed 41% more improvisation practices than projects that had relatively stable requirements (10% or fewer changes). This suggests that higher levels of improvisation, deliberate or not, are more likely to happen in projects that have fluid and unstable requirements. Based on the research findings, the authors believe that the capacity of a team to improvise can be developed and enhanced.