Whole System Transformation with Music

Abstract

In today’s global environment of accelerated change and exponential technological growth, historic methods of continuous improvement and traditional organizational change initiatives are not sufficient for organizations (and individuals) to keep up with that pace. Whole System Transformation (WST) is an established methodology for facilitating whole system change and adaptation utilizing the existing resources and knowledge of the current system in creating a new system that deploys those resources and knowledge on a new level of functionality, efficiency, effectiveness, and harmony. It is also designed to define and implement change in a rapid and discontinuous manner.

Music, on the corporate stage, has been employed typically in a “team building” context, where working groups do a drum circle or leadership metaphor program (your team as a jazz combo or orchestra for instance), where the objective is to have some fun together, connect, and blow off steam. Music, however, has a larger potential as an experiential learning tool, awareness shifter, and facilitator of collective resonance that can help groups access new possibilities, see their current system clearly, and align quickly and effectively.

This chapter defines an approach for using WST with music to attain organizational transformation, and in the process, facilitate each participant’s personal transformation process. It also includes four brief case studies on how the approach has been used in organizations.