Orchestras and Jazz bands
The metaphor of the team as an orchestra with someone in the role of conductor is only one way of imagining how teams are organised. It suggests perfect synchronisation under the control of a pivotal person.
I prefer an improv jazz metaphor for how teams work. Everyone is equal in their contribution, and appreciated for the uniqueness they bring. As someone joins they add to and changing the music, but when they leave the music carries on.
| Orchestra | Jazz band |
|---|---|
| Synchronised | Flexible |
| Dependent on one person (conductor) | Inter-dependent contributors (all equal) |
| Predictable | Adaptable |
| Easy to spot disruptive variation | Impossible to predict effects of changes |