Discussion: View Thread

Doan

Perhaps, look more at improv, than trying to search for an appropriate theoretical base. The core attribute of improv, is presence, and in that presence demands one be open to surprises, available to the unexpected. So, look more at improv than theory. Let the theory surface, it does.

You might begin by reviewing the growing vast literature on business and the arts. That would include my own dissertation published last year, Proquest, Business as performance art. There you will find a fairly current bibliography. Also look at the membership of AACORN, www.aacorn.net. There you will find the pioneers in this field with a range of publications and studies to peruse. Two books come to mind. Impro by Keith Johnstone and Group Genius by Keith Sawyer.

Good luck.

 

 

 

 

Hello -

I am quite interested in learning more about the theoretical foundation of improvisational behavior.  Can anyone suggest articles/chapters/anything that relates to theories that might help inform research into the performance-related effects of improvisational behavior?

I will be glad to post a summary of responses.  Thank you for any suggestions.
Doan

Doan Winkel
PhD Student
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business - S360
PO Box 742
Milwaukee, WI 53201

Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with Windows®. Game with Windows

Dear Doan, four possible leads --

first, the Dept of Defense (USA) are looking at 'emerging' roles in high-pressure situations (search and rescue; special operations; combat) and, I believe, are in population-level studies now on what can only be called 'improvisational' leadership and group roles in various work functions.

second, there's a huge literature on this question from studies in theater and in creative dramatics (chiefly, using improvisational techniques to facilitate children's learning). I'm aware of some attempts to relate these to work performance--DoD's work is one of these; some of the best practices in autonomous team formation are another. Anyway, from the strictly-defined 'improvisational' perspective in performance, people look first and foremost to Viola Spolin's books on improvisation, several decades old but still the industry standard. It seems to me that they are particularly associated with Chicago and (maybe most notably) with the Second-City comedy groups there and in Toronto.  They're great fun to read as well.

Third, there's a substantial experimental and quasi-experimental literature on the subject, especially from the social psychologists, who got onto it in the 'conformity' research in the 1960s & 70s. But for the bottom-line approach in performing arts, I'd certainly have a look at Spolin and at a lot of the research which she inspired, much of it dissertation based.  It's a short step from that work to, for example, some of the most dynamic work in autonomous and semi-autonomous teams (for which Hackman, for me, remains state of the art).  (Speaking of Dr. Hackman, HB press has available a 20 or 30 minute video illustrating Hackman's approach to team performance by looking at the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (which by charter has no 'leader', in the form of conductor) and traditional orchestral performance models (including the L. A. Symphony, under Mehta).

Finally, NEA has funded the production and web archiving of a series of short, very powerful videos on improvisation, narrated by Wynton Marsalis. I do not have the URL at hand, but I know several people (including me) who use these materials in OB and management courses. Probably you can find them easily with google or by accessing Jazz at Lincoln Center's web site.

Anyway, this is a wonderful area for scholarship and teaching. Best of luck with the work, and I look forward to learning where people are moving.

John Hollwitz
Professor of Management Systems
Fordham University