Abstract/Summary

This paper builds on the analysis of factors observed at jazz jam sessions facilitating team creativity and improvisation as a model for managing organizational innovation. The model was established through detailed observations, surveys, historical research, and interviews. Even though the jazz metaphor has been used as a model for organizational improvisation the discussions rarely extend beyond the improvisational process of idea generation (Frishammar et al. in Creativity Innov Manag 2:179, 2016) towards a comprehensive model for team creativity and effective organizational management (Santos et al. in Creativity Innov Manag 24(4):645–658, 2015). The seven factor Jam Session Model for Group Creativity and Innovative Technology is built from a comprehensive analysis of the jam session process and exemplified with case studies of leading innovative companies such offering a theoretical and practical model for managing and facilitating group creativity and innovative technology.