Not All That Jazz! What Jambands Teach Us About New Models of Innovation

The Power of Music to Revolutionize Innovation:

Imagine trying to solve the challenges of organizational innovation not through the lens of traditional business strategy, but through the creative spontaneity of a live music performance. Drawing from recent reflections on punk's energy and spirit (see The Guardian's article on the songs that define punk spirit ), many researchers know the significant emphasis on jazz as the dominant metaphor to understand innovation about how jazz is used as a metaphor for innovation—highlighting improvisation, collaboration, and creativity. But what if jazz is no longer the best fit? What if it's time to think about innovation differently, more openly, more inclusively?

In an attempt to add to the wider discussion that is happening online, and inspired by many friends Dr. Michael Bloomfield Haseeb Haider Aftab Yulia Bogdanova ???? , and the earlier researchers who have paved the way, I'm giving a throwback to an earlier publication. Published in the European Management Journal, I explore how the jamband music genre might provide a more appropriate metaphor for organizing contemporary models of innovation. The findings challenge the dominance of jazz as the go-to metaphor and show how jambands can better represent the evolving landscape of organizational innovation, especially in an era increasingly defined by openness, community, and collaboration.

Why Jambands?

Unlike jazz, which can sometimes feel exclusive and constrained, jambands embrace openness and community. A jamband, much like The Grateful Dead or Phish, thrives on diversity, experimentation, and inclusivity. They draw from multiple genres—rock, funk, bluegrass, blues—to create something uniquely spontaneous and evolving. This genre-crossing, collective energy is what inspired my exploration into how organizations today can innovate.

Think of innovation as a live performance, where everyone—employees, customers, stakeholders—is not just watching but participating. In IBM’s case, their Innovation Jams are an example of how to bring diverse minds together, just like a jamband. These Jams aren't about following a set list but about creating something unpredictable and powerful in real-time.

Emerging Themes: A Sense of Community, Collaborative Feedback, and Expertise Integration

In the study, three themes emerged that aligned with the jamband approach to innovation:

1. Sense of Community: Just as jambands create an inclusive experience where the audience is as much a part of the music as the musicians, innovation today should build a communal sense of creation. IBM's Innovation Jams, for instance, fostered an environment where people from across the organization could come together and contribute, regardless of their roles.
2. Collaborative Feedback: Innovation, like a great jam session, is about iterating and responding to feedback—whether that’s between musicians on stage or between employees and managers. IBM’s Jam Scorecard provided transparent progress updates that kept contributors engaged, much like how a band takes cues from an audience to shape its performance.
3. Expertise Integration: A jamband brings together musicians whom each have a deep knowledge of different genres, and in the same way, IBM brought together technologies and experts from across its global workforce. This integration led to richer, more innovative solutions—drawing on diverse knowledge just as a jamband draws on various musical traditions.

From Concept to Service: The Evolution of Innovation Jams

The evolution of IBM’s Innovation Jams is similar to how a jamband performance evolves:

• Concept Phase: The early stages were exploratory, like a band finding its groove—providing a platform for cross-functional dialogue and knowledge sharing.
• Tool Phase: Over time, the Jams became a structured tool for managing innovation, much like a well-rehearsed setlist.
• Service Phase: Finally, these Jams transformed into a service that IBM could offer to clients, similar to how a band’s music evolves into an immersive, shared experience for a growing audience.

Key Takeaways for Leaders

For those leading teams and fostering innovation, here are a few lessons you can take from the jamband metaphor:

1. Embrace Openness: Like a jamband, successful innovation today is about being open—open to new ideas, open to feedback, and open to contributions from diverse voices.
2. Cultivate Community: Your organization’s potential for innovation is amplified when everyone feels part of the creative process. Build spaces (both physical and virtual) that encourage collaboration across boundaries.
3. Iterate and Integrate: The magic of innovation often lies at the intersections—between teams, disciplines, and experiences. Just as a jamband blends genres to create something new, draw on different areas of expertise within your organization.

Join the Conversation

As the conversation around innovation evolves, perhaps it's time to expand beyond the jazz metaphor. The spirit of a jamband reminds us that innovation is about exploration, community, and creating something that no one individual could achieve alone. If you are interested in reading more please feel free to give the article a read at Not All That Jazz : Jamband as a Metaphor for Organizing New Models of Innovation

A big thank you to many kind people who helped a young researcher on his journey. I’d love to hear the communities thoughts: Have you experienced innovation that felt more like a live jam than a rehearsed performance? How can we, as leaders and changemakers, adopt these emerging models to foster more inclusive and powerful innovation?

Steve Diasio is an innovation expert and influencer who supports aspiring leaders, innovators, and change-makers. His bootcamps, sprints, and training encourage individuals and organizations to critically examine their surroundings and envision a more innovative future. He is the founder of the School of Creativity and Innovation, where he crafts training on cutting-edge innovation methodologies, design thinking, and disruptive business models.

From the vibrant streets of Barcelona to the intellectual hubs of London, Steve’s global perspective has been shaped by his tenure as a researcher at impactful institutions like ESADE Business School and Imperial Business School. In 2022, he was recognized as one of the Top 50 Business Professors in the World by the esteemed Poets&Quants Business School Rankings?—?a testament to his profound impact on the academic world.

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