The Flawless Consulting Fieldbook & Companion, 2nd Edition

Chapter 14From Organization Development to Making Music

Marvin Weisbord

WHERE IT IS WORKING: JAZZ BAND

In 1974, Marv Weisbord became a partner in our organization development consulting firm of Block Petrella Weisbord. After earning two degrees in journalism, he became a US Navy journalist and then taught at Penn State. Marv wrote books and magazine articles while working in a family business where he developed self-managing work teams. This led to a new career as an OD consultant. Over the next twenty years he developed his famous Six-Box Theory. This offered a framework for systemic insight into improvement created by people at all levels. Next, along with Sandra Janoff, Marv developed the Future Search process, which again became part of the large-group methodology movement that shifted our thinking about how change occurs.

What is now so compelling about Marv’s journey is how he has become a professional composer and musician. I knew he loved playing the piano, but I am now learning how he has brought musicians together to perform, compose, record, and possibly have a movie made about them. He has found a niche for music written for people in the later stages of life.

Welcome to our conversation.

Peter:    In the fifty years we’ve known each other I have witnessed your constant curiosity as if you were actually headed somewhere, in addition to caring for the present. Most people think the early years of a life are the formative ones. Not you. I am interested in how your ...