The viable system model and the Viplan software

Espejo, Rául; Bowling, Diane; Hoverstadt, Patrick

doi:10.1108/03684929910282944

Cited by 83 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Methods for the application of VSM in the functionalist sense have been developed -see Viable Systems Diagnosis (Flood and Jackson, 1991) and the Viplan method (Espejo et al, 1999) -where the researchers act in 'expert' mode (Franco and Montibeller, 2010) to compare the reality of the problem situation to VSM theory and recommend actions accordingly. The VSM has also been used in an interpretivist sense.…”

Section: The Viable Systems Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Guiding interventions in a multi-organisational context: combining the Viable System Model and Hierarchical Process Modelling for use as a Problem Structuring Method

Lowe

Martingale

Yearworth

2016

Journal of the Operational Research Society

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This paper describes the development and application of an innovative problem structuring method to guide interventions in the way in which the UK Ministry of Defence delivers infrastructure projects and services. This method uses an adaptation of the Viable System Model to structure a set of stakeholder assessments that leads to the building of a Hierarchical Process Model. The resultant model, which appears readily transferrable to other multi-organisational contexts, comprehensively represents the functions required for a specified system to be effective in its environment and affords insight into the processes and capabilities that require intervention -either to increase performance (addressing weaknesses) or to increase understanding (addressing uncertainty). The paper also describes a number of methodological learning points identified through the use of a structured approach to evaluation which again appear to be readily transferrable to other multi-organisational contexts.

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Section: The Viable Systems Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Guiding interventions in a multi-organisational context: combining the Viable System Model and Hierarchical Process Modelling for use as a Problem Structuring Method

Lowe

Martingale

Yearworth

2016

Journal of the Operational Research Society

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“…Below it is presented the TASCOI tool (Espejo et al 1999) and the explanation of every one of the mnemonic:…”

Section: Systemic Methodologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodology to Support Participative Decision-Making with Vulnerable Communities. Case Study: Engineers Without Borders Colombia/Ingenieros Sin Fronteras Colombia—ISFCOL

Ramírez

Sanabria

Duarte

et al. 2014

Syst Pract Action Res

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The decision-making process to select the best alternative for solving a social problem in a project, which involves vulnerable communities, must be carried out in a structured way. It is important to take into consideration the preferences and perceptions of all the beneficiaries and stakeholders with their many different competences and interests as this may increase the probability of successful solutions. Thus, this paper answers the following question: How to design a methodology that incorporates different points of view in order to reach solutions with vulnerable communities? Starting from this question, this paper presents a decision-making model for social systems incorporating conventional decision-making methodologies such as the Analytic hierarchy process to systemic methodologies like syntegration through the Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate project framework (CDIO). It also presents a case study developed by the organization Ingenieros Sin Fronteras Colombia (ISFCOL) -Engineers without Borders Colombiawhere this model has been applied for solving problems related to the contamination of water sources in vulnerable communities.

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“…However, existing applications of the VSM have not responded to this issue and mostly only focus on the rigorous identification of sub-units (e.g. Al-Mutari et al 2005;Britton and Parker 1993;Christopher 2007;Espejo 1989;Espejo et al 1999;Ríos 2006). Guidelines and recommendations for measuring variety are scarce.…”

Section: 55mentioning

confidence: 98%

“…163-225) but existing approaches suffer from ambiguities and different interpretations. For example, there are many differences in interpretation between Espejo et al (1999), Malik (1996), Holten (1999) or Ríos (2006). Therefore we rigorously specify a method and a systematic procedure for analysis and design with no place for ambiguities.…”

Section: The Viable System Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The variety engineering method: analyzing and designing information flows in organizations

Rosenkranz

Holten

2010

Inf Syst E-Bus Manage

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In every organization, various decisions have to be made continuously, from the simple choice, which customer order to be processed next, to the serious question, whether to select a new supplier or to cancel an existing one. All of these decisions are supported by the provision of relevant information. Therefore the efficiency of a value chain is strongly influenced by the accurate setup of information flows. To make organizations more effective and efficient, one needs to understand what information flows are currently available and how information flows should be designed for a given organization. However, there is hardly any methodology available in order to analyze and redesign information flows in organizations in a structured way. Using the design science research framework, we develop a method for the analysis and design of information flows in organizations. Our research on the Variety Engineering Method (VEM) attempts to develop a method to analyze, diagnose and design information flows. VEM is built based on systems theory and cybernetics, especially the Viable System Model. VEM has been tested internally, and evaluated externally through field studies. In this paper, we present VEM in detail and discuss some general issues involved in its development, including the application of concepts form method engineering and evaluation in field studies.Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (

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The viable system model and the Viplan software

Cited by 83 publications

References 1 publication

Guiding interventions in a multi-organisational context: combining the Viable System Model and Hierarchical Process Modelling for use as a Problem Structuring Method

Guiding interventions in a multi-organisational context: combining the Viable System Model and Hierarchical Process Modelling for use as a Problem Structuring Method

Methodology to Support Participative Decision-Making with Vulnerable Communities. Case Study: Engineers Without Borders Colombia/Ingenieros Sin Fronteras Colombia—ISFCOL

The variety engineering method: analyzing and designing information flows in organizations

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