Skip to main content
Author(s):
Karl E. Weick
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Human Dimensions of Fire Management
Organizational Learning & Innovation

NRFSN number: 15843
Record updated:

Weick uses the metaphor of jazz improvisation to discuss the way people verbally communicate about organizational improvisation. He argues that the descriptions and processes used to discuss composing on the spur of the moment provide a lexicon for discussing concepts central to organizational theory. Weick places an emphasis on the holistic nature of what occurs when people improvise. Specifically, this article examines various aspects of improvisation, such as degrees of improvisation, forms of improvisation, and cognition in improvisation. Weick ends with a list of 13 characteristics of groups with a high capability to improvise and comments about implications for theory and practice.

Citation

Weick, Karl E. 1998. Improvisation as a mindset for organizational analysis. Organizational Science 9 (5), p. 543-555.

Access this Document

Treesearch

publication access with no paywall

Check to see if this document is available for free in the USDA Forest Service Treesearch collection of publications. The collection includes peer reviewed publications in scientific journals, books, conference proceedings, and reports produced by Forest Service employees, as well as science synthesis publications and other products from Forest Service Research Stations.