ABSTRACT
In 1998 an entire issue of Organization Science was devoted to jazz as a metaphor for improvisation in organisations. The overture was by Meyer, Frost and Weick. Earlier scholars such as Bastien and Hostager and Hatch had also used the theme to illustrate how improvisation seems to takes place most effectively within a loose structure. Jazz is an example of improvisation which to outsiders might be referred to as doing your own thing and making it up as we go along. However more detailed analysis shows that jazz really involves performers communicating intensively with one another in real-time but within a loose structure comprising specific rules, such as order of soloist and accepted chord sequences. In the context of a jazz performance the players can innovate and explore new possibilities within a loose structure. This jazz approach also helps the senior executive and management to select a structure which will produce the most effective results.
