R. Keith Sawyer

Washington University

Collaborative Creativity

Inside theBlack Box

Engineering Innovation in Action

Improvising a new business processThe “scientist special”Improvising a new productReframing

The Innovation Process

ImprovisationCollaborationEmergence

[Looking at Tony, pointing at Devin] So there’s your answer.Theresa

Separate.3

We need to have it ask the user to give the presentation a name—we need to have Jim add somecode that gives it a name. Devin [turns to Devin]—does it make it easier for you if it has thesame or separate folders?

Theresa

Here is the problem I see: the folders have to have different names, but you need a folder for eachpresentation to not override other types of files.

Tony

[Pause, while both of them stare at the white board.]

Well, we may at some point, for tech support purposes, have to allow them to have this list[points], or separate GIF and HTML folders.

Tony

But even here [points] you may have these types of files.Theresa

Yeah, but how do you make it simple for the users? This has to go on this server [points], this onthat server [points].

Tony

It used to be on one server.Theresa

The problem is that some of the files need to go on the web server, and some on the video server.On the web, these files [draws on white board], on the video, these files.

Tony

What’s the problem?Theresa

Sure. Just a sec.Theresa

Theresa, when you get a minute could you come here?Tony

Cool.Tony

Great. Then Devin could point users here [points], and Jim could add the code that names thepresentation.

Theresa

Okay. So that would have a link to the presentations and to the images!Tony

The options for multiple presentations are…[she adds to Tony’s drawing]Theresa

Plus ease of use for uploading stuff. So, rather than have fifteen folders [draws on the whiteboard]

Tony

Let’s name the issues. Folders need titles for the name of presentation to reduce erroneousoverrides.

Theresa

There’s a lot of naming issues and overriding issues that have to be addressed.Tony

The problem is if you’re doing many presentations…[pauses]. I’m not sure I understand the mainissue any more.

Theresa

Having it up here screws you up either way.Tony

You may want to not make it index, because that’s the default presentation.Theresa

So that loads start and that loads index?Tony

I’ve got it! Make two starts! This will create two folders.Theresa

No.Tony

Is index.html your Javascript?Theresa

Okay. Then here are the folders [pointing at white board].Tony

Ensemble Jazz

Improv Theater: The Bus Stop

On or off?

I’m getting’ on, sir

In or out?

I’m getting’ in, I’m getting’ in!

All right.

Did I see you tryin’ to get in the back doora couple of stops back? Huh?

That was my brother.

Sawyer (2003). Improvised dialogues. Greenwood.

Group Creativity

UnpredictableContingentCollaborativeEmergent

America’s Most InnovativeCompany

Knowledge Management

Overall frameworks (outlines, scenarios)“Bits” (riffs, licks)Structure is always in dialectic withimprovisationEquivocality

Innovative TeamsImprovisation: Don’t plan; Just do it.Structures: The group shares a few loose structures that guide thework.Expertise: Group members each contribute expertise that fits into theongoing improvisation. They can reassemble this collective pool intonew combinations.Communication: Each group member listens to the others, and they’regood at building on what the others do.Self organization: The group re-organizes itself in response toenvironmental changes, without central control.Heavily parallel: Small sparks of creativity are happening all the time,and are distributed throughout the organization.Constant failure: Many ideas never go anywhere.

Group Creativity

ImprovisationCollaborationEmergence

www.keithsawyer.com

Oxford, 2006