Viable System Model Research Articles

Designing a Flexible and Adaptive Municipal Waste Management Organisation Using the Viable System Model

Changing consumption patterns, new packaging materials, innovative waste processing, and recycling technologies, but also unforeseen events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in the presence of the climate crisis and ecological degradation, necessitate the development of flexible and adaptive municipal waste management infrastructure and processes governed by equally flexible and adaptive organisations. In this regard, this paper presents the design process for such an organisation based on the Viable System Model (VSM). The VSM is a systems approach for the methodological diagnosis and design of organisations that can adapt to, and survive, changes in the environment that they are part of. Through a reference case of a large municipality in Greece, we demonstrate how the VSM and the related VIPLAN methodology can be used for the methodological development of flexible and adaptive municipal waste management systems (MWMS) for governing organisations.

Viable System Model for Managing Organizational Transformation: A Case Study on Korean Food-Services System

Purpose: In this article, the Viable System Model (VSM) is introduced and used as systems approach for managing organizational transformation at the Korean company. It aims to utilize strategic change management for understanding the nature of organizational transformation from systemic perspectives. Design/methodology/approach: Systems study using the VSM carries out regarding systemic understanding of the strategic change management of the system-in-focus within the organization. Semi-structured interviews were selected to elicit the history, decision-making process about the company's objectives, strategic plans and operation of the food-services system within the company. Findings: The Viable System Diagnosis (VSD) helps to design an effective food-services system to make this system viable in rapidly changing markets. It sets out the autonomous units of food-services system which has the necessary functions of operation, regulation and coordination, operational control, intelligence and policy that should be present in the organization. This helps initiate and facilitate the strategic change management of the company through providing the ability to respond environmental changes to the company in advance. Research limitations/implications: In this research, focus was on exploring the complex nature of strategic change management in how VSD helps design an effective food-services system to make this system viable in turbulent situations. This research can be justified only if the VSM approach is associated with its interpretivist paradigm, referred as soft systemic thinking. Originality/value: The VSM is introduc ed and applied in an effort to manage organizational transformation of the Korean food-services system in association with strategic management. The value of research was to explore the complex nature of organizational transformation using Espejo and Reyes' notion of the archetypes. It was able to demonstrate it through a case study on Korean food-services system as it shows the nature of the self-organizing whole.

Governance, cooperation and coordination in large inter-organisational project networks: a viable system perspective

PurposeThis study aims to further the understanding of multi-level analysis in inter-organisational relationships by investigating the interplay of governance, cooperation and coordination in inter-organisational projects (IOPs) on sub-system and project levels.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the Viable Systems Model as a framework to analyse inter-organisational project governance, cooperation and coordination by adopting a multiple-case study.FindingsThe findings illustrate how governance and coordination mechanisms exhibit a filter-down effect on lower sub-systems while cooperation influence is confined within each sub-system. While remarking the importance of specific sub-systems on the overall project performance, the interplay of governance, cooperation and coordination across sub-systems appears to be complex, with governance influencing cooperation and coordination, whereas cooperation and coordination influence each other with an incremental effect.Originality/valueThis study defines two propositions that explain how multiple levels of analysis (project and sub-systems) can support the governance of large inter-organisational projects. The authors elaborate theory on the interplay of inter-organisational project governance, cooperation and coordination.

Designing interagency responses to wicked problems: A viable system model board game

Government agencies struggle to address wicked problems because they are open-ended, highly interdependent issues that cross agency, stakeholder, jurisdictional, and geopolitical boundaries. While both quantitative modelling and qualitative problem structuring methodologies have been used to support interagency decision making in the past, co-designing an effective interagency organization to collaboratively tackle wicked problems is more challenging. Few approaches have been developed to enable such efforts. This paper explains how the viable system model (VSM) was implemented through a board game, which was employed to co-design an interagency meta-organization that would be capable of more effectively collaborating to jointly address a wicked problem: international organized drug crime and its interface with local gangs in Chicago, USA. The board game was developed to make the VSM easier for the participants to learn, given that the cybernetic language and engineering-influenced diagrams in the original literature can be off-putting to leaders and managers. The board game was used as the final stage of a multi-method, systemic approach, which involved boundary critique and problem structuring as well as deployment of the VSM. The research findings indicate that the VSM board game, used as part of a larger mixed-methods systemic intervention, contributes to building trust in the value of systems thinking amongst the participants, and sets up a rich context for collaboration on multi-agency co-design. The game therefore offers significant promise as part of the co-design of interagency responses to wicked problems because it creates an embodied process for stakeholders to learn about the VSM. It also reduces the work involved in this learning. Thus, the game enables an effective appropriation of the VSM language and criteria.

Organizational System Resilience to Disinformation: A Viable Systems Model Exploration

AbstractThis paper explores the utility of organizational system modeling frameworks to provide valuable insight into information flows within organizations and subsequently the opportunities for increasing resilience against disinformation campaigns targeting the system's ability to utilize information within its decision making. Disinformation is a growing challenge for many organizations and in recent years has created delay in decision making. The paper has utilized the viable systems model (VSM) to characterize organizational systems and used this approach to outline potential subsystem requirements to promote resilience of the system. The results of this paper can support the development of simulations and models considering the human elements within the system as well as support the development of quantitative measures of resilience.

Halal industry in Uzbekistan: analysis using the Viable System Model

PurposeUzbekistan, a former Soviet Union state whose population is 96% Muslim, is aiming to penetrate the global halal market. Since 2016, its government has been committed to establishing a halal economy, purportedly comprising halal product exports and inbound halal tourism services. Given that a conducive halal ecosystem is a critical condition for creating and sustaining a viable halal economy, the current condition of the halal industry in the country must be diagnosed. For this purpose, we developed a diagnostic framework based on the halal principles and the Viable System Model (VSM) to identify the existing players and stakeholders in the halal industry ecosystem in Uzbekistan and their respective roles and functions, as well as the information flows amongst them.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilised the qualitative methodology with the data gathered mainly from in-depth interviews with industry experts and consumers in Uzbekistan.FindingsThe findings revealed that the country has considerable potential to develop its halal tourism market due to its beautiful landscape, rich history and cultural heritage, which is supported by a full-fledged development policy. Uzbekistan's industrial sector exhibits substantial readiness to serve the Muslim market; however, the country lacks a specific policy for the development of the halal manufacturing export industry.Originality/valueOur findings generate emergent themes that are relevant to the operations and future viability of halal industry of a Muslim country in a transitioning economy. These emerging themes further strengthened existing conceptualisation of the Viable System Model in terms of the elements of the environment and the function of policymaking in contributing toward a system's viability. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are also provided.

Analysis of Road Traffic Management Using the Viable System Model: Case Study – Mexico City

La congestión vehicular se ha sido una preocupación en las grandes ciudades, que afecta la calidad de vida de los habitantes de la ciudad de México (CDMX) y ralentizan la movilidad urbana. Existen varios factores a considerar que provocan la congestión vehicular, como el cambio de uso de suelo; que desencadenó zonas habitacionales en lugares inadecuados, aunque cercanos a la CDMX. La discontinuidad en los proyectos con cada cambio de gobierno, que detiene el avance en las leyes o políticas públicas y la falta de mantenimiento de las calles que provocan congestionamiento vial y otros problemas sociales. Se realizó un análisis holístico desde la perspectiva cibernética sistémica y organizativa, usando la metodología del Modelo de Sistema Viable (MSV). Teniendo en cuenta los organismos encargados de la toma de decisiones, la elaboración de políticas y la documentación, con el objetivo de mejorar el flujo del tráfico vial desde su gestión administrativa, y que en algún momento se vea reflejado de manera operativa. Se diseñó el MSV para entender el organismo gubernamental que gestiona el flujo vehicular y la documentación correspondiente. Además, las propuestas de organismos no gubernamentales para llevar a cabo esta tarea, y se aportaron algunas ideas, especialmente en los sistemas 2 y 3*. Tras recopilar documentos de diversos organismos, nos encontramos con documentos gubernamentales dispersos y duplicados, incluso muy antiguos. Este diseño se ofrece a los interesados para detonar ideas que mejoren la gestión del tráfico vial en la CDMX, buscando reducir los congestionamientos viales.

Review of Productive Pragmatism: Can industrial democracy be viable under neoliberalist capital conditions?

I review the two cases of industrial democracy in Norway and Mondragon using multiple perspectives. From a system thinking perspective, I use a General Systems Theory (GST), Viable Systems Model and Soft Systems Methodology. From a management perspective, I examine how institutional entrepreneurship plays a role in creating new ways of coping with regulative, normative, and cultural-cognitive forces impacting the two cases. I then view the two economies from a governmentality perspective on how they deal with power and autonomy. My analysis demonstrates that the two democracies have coped well with internal and external forces. I also argue that industrial democracy would face challenges in dealing with new ways of working that have emerged due to the influence of technology.

Diagnosing a Halal Certification System for Cosmetics: The Viable System Model Approach

Diagnosing a Halal Certification System for Cosmetics: The Viable System Model Approach

Viable System Model as A Framework for Value Co-Creation Service System Analysis of Technology-based Business Incubator

Bandung Techno Park (BTP) at Telkom University has a crucial role in the technology-based business incubation scheme. From the recruitment process, learning goals, venture capital, commercialization with all impacted to start-ups accomplishment. These observations resulted by using qualitative research methods for one year. Referring to the concept of service systems, it was founded that business incubators in higher education can produce the holistic service system diagnostics to develop the external collaboration between university and industry. These findings are successfully set out by used the Viable System Model (VSM) from service system science approach which is divided into five main functions: (1) Operationalization, (2) Coordination, (3) Monitoring and Control, (4) Intelligence, (5) Policy. The important collaboration of the integrated service system at BTP is framed in a structured concept. Incubator operation supervision focuses on service systems that play a role in four types of management, namely: business innovation and incubation, tenant service and support, marketing, and technology solutions. The findings of the analysis with VSM relate to the role of technology-based business incubators in creating value co-creation from a service science point of view.
 Keywords— Value Co-creation; New Technology-based Firms; Business Incubators; University-industry Collaboration

The viable system model and the viability theory: Collaborations paths

The cybernetic viable system model (VSM) and viability theory (VT) are based on common assumptions. Both are tools for understanding and designing organizations. What, then, are the specific notions or concepts they share? What are their points of contact? To answer these questions, we identify the various mathematical concepts of control theory used in VSM and study the advances made in VT. We also summarize the various concepts in each approach. It is shown that VSM emphasizes general structures whereas VT puts the accent on the behaviour of particular dynamic systems. Our general conclusions are that: (1) VSM contributes important cybernetic concepts while VT provides precise notions of tychastic viability, viability and invariant sets as well as capture and absorption basins; and (2) control theory strongly enriched by system dynamics techniques is the most important theoretical and practical bridge between VSM and VT. These various characteristics of the two methods lend themselves to fruitful collaboration between them and form the basis of an attractive agenda for further research.

Assessing the functionality of the department of the education in disruptive times using the Viable System Model

Organisational functionality is critical for ensuring that the organisation remains focused on providing its performance mandate, especially in times of disruption such as the Corona Virus Pandemic, natural disasters caused by floods, earthquakes, and civil unrest. In times of disruption, organisation could enhance their functionality by applying the Viable System Model (VSM). The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (KZNDOE), experienced functionality-related challenges during the Pandemic which hindered the delivery of teaching and learning across most schools. Therefore, the study aimed to enhance the department's functionality using the VSM. The target population consisted of 300 senior managers, principals, and educators at the KZNDOE. The study employed an exploratory research design gathering data from 14 respondents through interviews as the data collection instrument. Data were analysed thematically using the NVivo 12 model. The study findings revealed that KZNDOE was not prepared to deal with the complexity presented by the Corona Virus Pandemic due to a dysfunctional structure, lack of resources, and skills incompetency to deal with complexity. To address the challenges, the department reviewed the functional structure which was last reviewed in 2011 to one that is adaptive in responding to the complex environment. The review would include the change of structure by creating new structures within the department that can deal with the Pandemic. For example, the study recommended a specific structure that deals with enhancing performance, Corona Virus Pandemic communication network, empowerment structures for educators, and structures to provide for remote learning and pre-learning materials. The study however recommended that a similar study could be conducted in other provinces to have a balanced view before making national inferences.

Contributions to anarchist-cybernetics, identifying committee directorates in Errico Malatesta's theory: content analysis using dynamic causal diagrams and viable system modelling

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to increase academic understanding of the relationship between systems' political identity and their viability, and to contribute to anarchist-cybernetics by examining the idea of organization proposed by Malatesta using Viable Systems. The research also develops the understanding of the relationship between Viable Systems and the environment.Design/methodology/approachThe author developed a content analysis method that uses dynamic analysis, identifying how some variables affect others, and data is analysed using the Viable Systems Model. The author used Dynamic Causal Diagrams and the Viable System Model to draw conclusions and build theory. The author examined 137 documents produced by Errico Malatesta, studying in detail 39 documents containing the researched concepts.FindingsThe article identifies the literature, proposes an organizational theory for society and for cooperatives, strongly grounded in both, self-management and control. It presents a theory of self-management as a balancing effort to the control exercised by the external economic, political and societal forces of the environment. The literature also shows a form of organization that can be interpreted using the VSM framework. The ideas about self-management found in the literature, extend to economics, social theory, ethics, organizations, management and even operations management. The article finishes proposing a set of committees linked to the VSM structure, and successfully bridges anarchism and organizational cybernetics.Originality/valueThe article presents a novel method of systems analysis for the study of literature. It discovers the theory proposed by Malatesta not identified previously. Using the VSM framework, the ideas presented by the author, are translated into the organizational identity, and the operation of cooperatives. It makes an important contribution to anarchist-cybernetics.

Organisational cybernetics: A systems thinking method used for small and medium enterprises

Orientation: Systems thinking stems from the Twenties and has constantly developed over the years in assisting sectors in operations, management and the environment in checking for interdependencies, interconnections and coherence in all aspects of the elements inputted. In particular, the viable systems model in organisational cybernetics of systems thinking can be considered as a tool used for validating elements and being goal-oriented in nature.Research purpose: The purpose of this research is to showcase the role and influence that the viable systems model in organisation cybernetics has in a study conducted on small and medium enterprises.Motivation for the study: In the business world, there is a profound need for organisations to ensure that process flows are maintained to achieve sustainability. The systems thinking approach ensures that process flows are maintained; however, they have proven to be robust in validating elements and achieving goals. In this regard, this study encourages organisations to embrace and utilise systems thinking approaches to improve productivity and, ultimately, sustainability.Research design, approach and method: In conjunction with the mixed methodology approach, namely the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for quantitative research and NVivo for qualitative research, the viable systems model in organisational cybernetics was used in this empirical study.Main findings: The core element of ‘strategy’ and the subelements of ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were investigated. It was found that ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were the main contributors towards achieving sustainability. Furthermore, a systems thinking model – the viable systems model – was used successfully to indicate the interdependencies to purport the goal of achieving sustainability. Ultimately, it was found that ‘strategy’, ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were required to achieve a ‘sustainable business strategy’.Practical/managerial implications: Leaders should consider the use of systems thinking as a tool to ensure the output of a robust process flow, increased productivity and good governance in their organisations.Contribution/value-add: The viable systems model in organisational cybernetics proved to be successful in checking for interconnections, interdependencies and coherence of the elements used in the research study. Researchers in today’s era should consider the use of systems thinking in future research studies.

Opening the black box of knowledge management mechanisms: exploring knowledge flows at a consultancy

PurposeBased on an exploratory case-based approach, the purpose of this paper is to open the KM black box and examine the relationships that link knowledge management (KM) inputs (i.e. knowledge resources and KM practices) via knowledge processes to KM performance. This paper aims to identify the underlying mechanisms and explain how KM performance is enabled.Design/methodology/approachThis in-depth case study conducted at a medium-sized consultancy in the supply chain management industry empirically examines knowledge flows to uncover the relationships between KM inputs, knowledge processes and KM performance. We adopt the viable system model (VSM) as a theoretical lens to identify KM mechanisms.FindingsBy identifying six KM mechanisms, we contribute to the theoretical understanding of how KM inputs are interconnected and lead to KM performance via knowledge processes.Originality/valueBased on the insights gained, we provide propositions that organizations should consider in designing viable KM. Our findings help organizations in understanding their KM with the help of knowledge flow analysis and identifying how critical KM elements are interconnected.

Characterization of a Mexican MSME Technological Observatory through the Viable System Model

The viable system model (VSM) is a conceptual framework for analyzing and designing complex organizations, which was developed by Stafford Beer in the 1970s. It is based on the idea that every organization is a system composed of a set of interconnected subsystems that must work together effectively to achieve its goals. One of the key scientific novelties of using the VSM in technological issues is its emphasis on adaptability and resilience. The VSM recognizes that organizations must be able to adapt to changing environments and circumstances in order to survive and thrive, and that this requires a flexible and responsive organizational structure that is capable of learning and adapting over time. By using the VSM to design and manage their technological systems, organizations can create more adaptive and resilient systems that are better able to respond to changing technological and market conditions. The current dynamics of the market push companies to look for ways to improve their competitive position by relying on instruments that facilitate the effective acquisition, processing, and analysis of large amounts of data from different and dispersed sources; in response to this need, various tools for research and information processing have emerged. One of them is the technological observatories that appeared in the nineties. They are considered tools that assist in the design of strategies, the decision-making of companies, and the development of public policies. The following research aims to characterize a technological observatory for MSMEs in Mexico based on the model of viable systems (VSM); its intelligence area is validated through a prospective model for the next five years using the I Think 8.0 software. The methodological strategy is based on the mixed sequential explanatory method; in the first instance, a quantitative analysis is carried out on the structure, processes, human resources, and innovation of twenty technological observatories of the business sector that operate worldwide, after which a qualitative analysis was elaborated established in thematic axes on the opinion of experts in areas of public policy, technologies, knowledge transfer, education, both contributions supported to generate an overview of the current state of technological observatories in Mexico and worldwide, then obtain the necessary inputs to develop the proposed model. As a result, an observatory model was obtained for MSMEs with good profitability and permanence over time, thanks to their anticipated strategies based on the perspective regarding their management. Keywords: MSMEs, observatory, foresight, viable systems, competitiveness. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.50.4.19

The Viable System Model

Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model is one of the most widely used Systemic approaches to management. It offers a robust theory on organisational viability and associated methodologies which supports the practitioner to map the warts-and-all reality of the way an organisation works, and then assess it with VSM criteria. It models an organisation as a neural network, where each node is itself an autonomous, viable system, and all nodes together constitute a purposeful and cohesive organisation. It has been applied at all scales from small work-groups to Small and Medium Enterprises, Corporations, communities and nation states, and experienced practitioners often tell of the power and speed of the model to identify and solve issues threatening organisational effectiveness. This chapter explains the basic VSM theory, a well-developed methodology to apply it for guided organisational self transformation, and a recent example of application in a Mexican service company, which resulted in very good improvements in key performance indicators. It offers a final reflection on innovative developments of the original theory in areas like governance, sustainability, industrial ecology and network management.

Exploring the viability of the technical sales process: Approach from the Viable Systems Model and Social Network Analysis.

Exploring the viability of the technical sales process: Approach from the Viable Systems Model and Social Network Analysis.

The Viable System Model and Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Institutionalization Process of Micro-enterprises.

The Viable System Model and Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Institutionalization Process of Micro-enterprises.

On the need for structuring of the Integrated Public Transport System -IPTS of Bogotá, Colombia as a Viable System

Whilst there has been an increasing recognition that public transport systems are complex systems Lu and Shi (2007); (Pezzillo Iacono, Mangia, Canonico, & De Nito, 2010; Sienkiewicz & Hołyst, 2005) and therefore require of complex systems approaches to their analysis and design, there is not yet many examples in the literature to illustrate how this could be done and which would the learning be of taking such analytical approach. To contribute in this research path, this article analyses the trunk component of the Integrated Public Transport System of Bogotá (IPTS) as a business ecosystem, from the perspective of the Viable System Model (VSM). We first present the conceptual bases of the VSM and then present the methodological fundamentals to model the ITPS as a complex system under this chosen optics. Following a longitudinal analysis approach, we then model the complexity of the IPTS – and its environmental niche over the last 15 years since its inception. This preliminary analysis indicates that the development of the IPTS has not coped well with the variety of the urban development, so the IPTS does not exhibit requisite variety. A heuristic to continue this type of analysis is suggested that allows strategic systems’ design and re-development, based on this model. Finally, we present our reflections about how this research path respond to existing questions in the literature in public transport systems and OR.