Organizational Development: A Manual for Managers and ... - FPDL

The minimum specifications of place, time, duration, melodies, roles, and general rules
have been set. Usually the musicians know one other very well, and they are steeped in the
theory and practice of jazz music. Frequently they have played the same or similar pieces
before. The music is a balance of control and improvisation (the melodic and harmonic lines of
in-the-moment changes and adaptations).
They listen to each other and adapt themselves to fashion the music. Each member’s
enthusiastic participation influences other members of the ensemble and the receptivity of the
audience. The audience, in turn, influences the players with verbal and nonverbal expressions
of appreciation.
The quality and creativity of the performance depends on all of these complex interactions.
Emerging patterns, in turn, affect the performance of the next and successive pieces. Each
performance is unique, but patterns are apparent.” (Olson and Eoyang, 2001)
This metaphor would not suite any jazz band or any time the same band plays, but some bands in
some cases are very close to this – then it is a great joy both to the musicians and to the audience.
For years, when travelling around many countries for business, author of this Manual was always
looking for jazz clubs in any unknown city – because these were always very friendly places.
People are never aggressive here; they are open, readily communicate, but do not trouble one
another. A good mood is an inherent feature of any true jazz club, probably because of the proper
mix of nearly full freedom and a strict subordination to certain rules; equality and mutual respect;
attentiveness to others’ feelings and readiness to share your own; participation; responsibility for
the general atmosphere; and so on – just the right way of being together!
In some training courses in the late 1990’s, we used to play video records of jazz improvisation by
big ensembles to illustrate the way people can work in a team. This analogy may extend to the
whole organization. In this case, it is not just a team, especially when the organization is big. But it
may be something like a meta-team, where all parts of the organization interact and are likewise
members of a team. Such an organization would be a great place to work.
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