Episode 15: The Flow of Five Tiers - Seeing the Whole System Artwork

UNBOXING OD: Exploring the Work Behind the Work

Unboxing OD is your guide to making sense of Organizational Development - one thoughtful conversation at a time. Hosted by Kenneth Pearson, seasoned OD practitioner and author of The Flow of Five Tiers, this podcast unpacks the complexity of organizational life with clarity, compassion, and a bit of edge.

Whether you're an early-career OD professional, a leader trying to navigate change, or simply someone who believes workplaces can be more human, you'll find grounded insights and actionable takeaways here. While most episodes are solo deep dives into the fieldwork and philosophy behind OD, we also feature voices from the field, bringing in experts, newcomers, and those who challenge the status quo.

No jargon. No endless theory. Just practical wisdom, lived experience, and a steady focus on making organizations better for the people who keep them alive.

Ready to deepen your OD practice? Connect with Kenneth on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/unboxing-od-podcast or visit the Pearson & Pearson LLC website at www.pearsonpearson.llc.

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UNBOXING OD: Exploring the Work Behind the Work

Episode 15: The Flow of Five Tiers - Seeing the Whole System

April 30, 2025 • Kenneth Pearson • Season 1 • Episode 15

0:00 | 13:40

What happens when we pause, zoom out, and ask: What are we really building?

In this special episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson introduces The Flow of Five Tiers - a reflective, systems-based framework for understanding how real change happens inside organizations. Rather than offering another top-down model, this episode presents a fresh, integrated lens for OD practitioners and change leaders seeking clarity in complexity.

Kenneth walks through each tier - Foundational Core, Leadership & Strategy, Culture & People, Processes & Systems, and Impact & Outcomes - exploring how these interconnected layers shape the flow of organizational life. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how to identify misalignment, strengthen your interventions, and support sustainable change - not just at the surface, but at the system level.

Rooted in idealism but grounded in experience, this conversation is both philosophical and practical. Because creating a healthy organization doesn’t start with a policy or a plan. It starts with people, especially the ones willing to ask better questions.

The Flow of Five Tiers book will be available in May 2025 on the Pearson & Pearson LLC website, or wherever books are sold.

Until then, this episode offers a meaningful introduction for those ready to shift from fragmentation to flow.

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