Improvisation: a legitimate strategy in the face of adversity

While there is substantial research on entrepreneurial behaviour there is limited research on the use of improvisation as a legitimate response. It is widely acknowledged that many entrepreneurs do not use plans, or ignore them once they are written. This paper explores what entrepreneurs do when face with an unanticipated event that requires a response, and planning is not a viable option. Using a qualitative approach the paper builds on unobtrusive observations and informal interviews to establish how entrepreneurs respond to unanticipated events. Based on these observations and interviews the paper argues that improvisation is a legitimate alternative to planning. The paper contributes to our understanding of how entrepreneurs respond to unanticipated events that require immediate responses. It also demonstrates that improvisation is a wide-spread activity that is much more complex than the accepted definition implies.

Published online: 04 Jun 2015