Group 2Himanshu JainMohit VoraKirti rai ChanchalAbhay Kumar Ray14 July 2015Companies that want to outpace the competition throw out the script and improvise their way to new strategies - Robert Moss Kanter

Strategy asImprovisational TheatreAnalogyTraditional Theatre There is a written script Actors rehearse Unvarying conclusion

Improvisational theatre, also calledimprovorimpromost of what is performed, the dialogue, action, story, and characters, is created at the moment it is performed. Unpredictable and InnovativeNo ScriptLaggards vs PacesettersLess open to new ideasEmployee initiative is not permitted First they ignore the technology then spend heavily to catch upGo by the script Act before they had a complete planMembers get involved Use technology experimentally to come up with a clear modelThey dont wait, they improviseE.g. POLAROIDStarted as innovative brand of instant photographyThings got digital Failed to innovate and experimentPolaroid filed for bankruptcy in 2001

Advantages of Improvisational ModelProcess in not hiddenSaves money and reduce waste because investments are made project by projectHigh-level debates about major strategic changes are avoidedContinuous improvisation rather than radical changes gives time to everyone to adjust to change. Williams Sonoma Several rounds of improvisation before taking the decision.Trial-and-error improvisations By the time company announced three-channel strategy, it had already been transformed Other examples Sun Microsystems Reuters

Evolving Strategies

The Elements of Improvisational TheatreThemesImprovisation is driven by a clear themeA topic, a headline or a directionAn expression of what and why but not howExample- A Leaders statement about a future destinationA topic of a interestShould be broad but yet focusedCompanies appoint Theme owners

TheatersFuture cannot be created in a structure designed for pastInnovators need a place to develop the playBringing together everyone to launch the operationsNeed not be always a formal location in an organization chartIn companies open to innovation, street theatre is encouragedCompanies should not limit themselves to one venueActors

Improvisational roles that are more challenging as per the challenge & perceived information requires more of actors than traditional ones.Innovative Companies sets a culture that encourages out of the box thinking & demand commitment. Improvisers must be willing to take charge without having all the information required (Sometimes even 60%)

Sometimes Not all the people in company can be convinced.Unconvinced people need to be convinced one by one, but necessarily till the end.A new venture always require a degree of passion & faith.Leaders of new venture : the one who are improvisers & performers with information they have.Decisions on new ventures on the basis of Information rather status.

Audiences Audience engagement vital component.It can make or break dramaImprovisers should adjust quickly to their reactions. More interactive than any Market research or information gathering

Direct involvement must take placeE.g. Customers can be the direct partners in designing and providing feedback.Critics can be source of providing alternative solutions etcSuns improvisational team taking direct feedback from audiencesJava Television project acknowledges customer Feedback for product development.Its not always important that audience reacting most strongly should be primary targetE.g. Monsanto developed genetically modified seeds keeping in view customers and customers customer. Successive VersionsDo it right the first time, is not viable in innovative companiesA new set of management slogans has emerged in the Internet era sense and respond, launch and learn, try and trashNo penalty culture

Options on the FutureWhen impossible to craft a scripted plan - allows to take options on the future.Thank You