Strategic Change and the Jazz Mindset: Exploring Practices that Enhance Dynamic Capabilities for Organizational Improvisation

Ethan S. Bernstein; Frank J. Barrett

doi:10.1108/S0897-3016(2011)0000019005

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Research in Organizational Change and Development

ISSN: 0897-3016
Series editor(s): Richard Woodman, Professor William Pasmore, Abraham B. (Rami) Shani

Subject Area: Organization Studies

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Strategic Change and the Jazz Mindset: Exploring Practices that Enhance Dynamic Capabilities for Organizational Improvisation

Document Information:
Title:	Strategic Change and the Jazz Mindset: Exploring Practices that Enhance Dynamic Capabilities for Organizational Improvisation
Author(s):	Ethan S. Bernstein, Frank J. Barrett
Volume:	19 Editor(s): Abraham B. (Rami) Shani, Richard W. Woodman, William A. Pasmore ISBN: 978-1-78052-022-3 eISBN: 978-1-78052-023-0
Citation:	Ethan S. Bernstein, Frank J. Barrett (2011), Strategic Change and the Jazz Mindset: Exploring Practices that Enhance Dynamic Capabilities for Organizational Improvisation, in Abraham B. (Rami) Shani, Richard W. Woodman, William A. Pasmore (ed.) Research in Organizational Change and Development (Research in Organizational Change and Development, Volume 19), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.55-90
DOI:	10.1108/S0897-3016(2011)0000019005 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Article type:	Chapter Item
Abstract:	How can leaders adopt a mindset that maximizes learning, remains responsive to short-term emergent opportunities, and simultaneously strengthens longer-term dynamic capabilities of the organization? This chapter explores the organizational decisions and practices leaders can initiate to extend, strengthen, or transform “ordinary capabilities” (Winter, 2003) into enhanced improvisational competence and dynamic capabilities. We call this leadership logic the “jazz mindset.” We draw upon seven characteristics of jazz bands as outlined by Barrett (1998) to show that strategic leaders of business organizations can enhance dynamic capabilities by strengthening practices observed in improvising jazz bands.