Improvising at work: the differences between experts and novices

Abstract

Improvisation is being presented as a relevant process in organizational environments marked by speed and unpredictability, but it is still an under-investigated topic. The theoretical question for which we seek to provide a preliminary insight is: How does novice behavior differ from expert behavior with regard to the use of improvisational action? We build on the integration of several disciplines to advance a theoretical model. We predict that several constructs will have differential effects on lhe adoption of improvisation by experts and novices. The paper contributes to the literature by suggesting that unexpected events with be approached differently by peopte with different levels or expertise, something which in turn will have both theoretical and applied implications.