Improvisation in Action (subscription)
by Mary M. Crossan - Organization Science, Vol. 9, No. 5, 1998 - All rights reserved.

This paper describes a typical improvisation workshopin developping six key areas that link improvisation exercises to the practice of nanagement: interpreting the environment; crafting strategy; cultivating strategy; cultivating leadership; fostering teamwork; developing individual skills; and assessing organizational culture.(...)

Improvisers would say that the principle of "yes-anding" is at the heart of improvisation. It means that individuals accept the offer made to them and build on it. It is a simple concept, but challenging to implement. It means that jokes are not made at the expense of other people, individuals do not impose themselves on the scene in a controlling fashion; individuals do not just survive in the scene, they work actively to build it; and individuals do no put, or leave, one another out on a limb. Individuals in many organizations will find it difficult to leave up to this concept of teamwork.