Viable Systems Model

Model for organizational optimalization and development by Stafford Beer.

Description

From: The Open Coop at http://open.coop/tiki-index.php?page=Viable+Systems+Model

"The following quick introduction to Stafford Beer's Viable Systems Model is based upon Jon Walker's The Viable Systems Model, a guide for co-operatives and federations

The Three Elements — Environment, Operation, and Metasystem

Beer's first insight was to consider the human organism as three main interacting parts: the muscles & organs, the nervous systems, and the external environment. Or a little more crudely, body, brain and environment.

These are generalised in the Viable Systems Model as follows:

The Operation — The muscles and organs. The bits which do all the basic work. The primary activities.

The Metasystem — The brain and nervous systems. The parts which ensure that the various Operational units work together in an integrated, harmonious fashion. The job of the Metasystem is to hold the whole thing together.

The Environment — All those parts of the outside world which are of direct relevance to the system in focus.

The Five Systems - Creating a Whole from the Parts.

The argument goes like this:

First of all you need the working bits. This is System 1 (S1) which has previously been called the Operation. S1 is the bit which actually does something. It's the muscles, the engine room, the machines, the producers.

Secondly you must ensure that there are ways of dealing with conflicting interests which are inevitable in the interactions which occur as the parts of S1 interact. Conflict resolution is the job of System 2. System 2 is also given the job of ensuring stability.

Once the interactions of the System 1 units are rendered stable, it becomes essential to look at ways of optimising these interactions. This is the job of System 3. System 3 works with an overview of the entire complex of interacting System 1 units and thinks "If this one does this and that one does that, then the whole thing will work more effectively." The extra efficiency is called synergy. System 3 is there to regulate System 1 - its function is optimisation.

Once you have a stable, optimised set of Operational units, then you must ensure that it can survive in a changing environment. This is the job of System 4. System 4 looks at the outside world, considers what it sees, looks for threats and opportunities, and schemes. S4 is there to produce plans to ensure long term viability.

And finally, the whole thing must function within some sort of overall context. Everyone must be pulling in the same direction. This is System 5's job. It provides the ground rules and the means of enforcing them to ensure that the system in complete. System 5 provides the ultimate authority." (http://open.coop/tiki-index.php?page=Viable+Systems+Model)

More Information

Summary at http://open.coop/tiki-index.php?page=Viable+Systems+Model

The VSM Guide by Jon Walker at http://www.esrad.org.uk/resources/vsmg_3/screen.php?page=home