TY - JOUR T1 - Improvising Entrepreneurship JF - Technology Innovation Management Review Y1 - 2014 A1 - Tom Duxbury KW - adaptation KW - agile development KW - bricolage KW - effectuation KW - entrepreneurship KW - improvisation KW - improvised behaviour KW - lean startup AB - Improvisation is reviewed in the context of mainstream routines that modern startups use to adapt to changing environments. The increasing interest in flexible methodologies such as lean startup is one indication that organizations need to consider alternatives when the rate of change exceeds the ability to plan for it. Empirical studies indicate that improvisation is an important, yet understudied part of organizational life in new ventures. It is argued that entrepreneurs improvise not just out of necessity, but because they have chosen an occupation that is congruent with the practice and likely have a disposition towards the behaviour. Lessons from contexts in jazz and theatre are provided for entrepreneurs, and it is recommended that evidence of past success with improvisation be used to select candidates for improvisational work. PB - Talent First Network CY - Ottawa VL - 4 UR - http://timreview.ca/article/809 IS - 7 U1 - Carleton University Tom Duxbury teaches innovation and entrepreneurship at the Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, where he is a PhD candidate. A serial entrepreneur, startup advisor, and executive, Tom has co-founded several technology ventures and been awarded a variety of patents. Tom earned an engineering degree from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from Queen's University. He is currently developing a behaviour-based measure of improvisation as part of his doctoral research. For further information, or to participate in his study of improvisation, please contact the author. ER -