Williams, N. orcid.org/0000-0002-5402-4062 (2024) Carry that weight: Entrepreneurial teams, creativity and conflict in the Beatles. Journal of Beatles Studies, 2024 (Spring). 87 -111. ISSN 2754-7019
Abstract
This article examines creativity and conflict in the Beatles. Building on the theory of entrepreneurial teams, the article shows that even in the most creative group settings, leadership is required to sustain creativity over time. Initially, restless determination and creativity can compensate for a lack of leadership, but eventually an absence of leadership can mean that conflict is not resolved. The pre-Epstein Beatles years can be characterized as lacking real organizational leadership, but this was compensated for by drive and the focal point of de facto leader John. The Epstein years brought strategic direction and leadership, while the post-Epstein years saw a disintegration of leadership, with others, particularly Paul, trying to fill the gap after Epstein’s death. In the end, entrepreneurial teams cannot sustain their creativity without effective leadership. Evidence from the Beatles’ career, particularly the Get Back sessions, is used to demonstrate how leadership is required, even among highly creative groups.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Keywords: | entrepreneurial teams, creativity, conflict, leadership |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Business (Leeds) > Management Division (LUBS) (Leeds) > Management Division Enterprise & Entrepreneurship (LUBS) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 14 Mar 2024 14:56 |
Last Modified: | 30 Jul 2024 12:50 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Liverpool University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.3828/jbs.2024.6 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:210247 |