Models of organizational cybernetics for diagnosis and design

Abstract

Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to introduce a framework, based on Beer's viable system model (VSM) that enables managers of public and private organizations to cope with the complexities faced by their organizations. Design/methodology/approach-Based on concepts from organizational cybernetics (OC) concepts, an heuristic is elaborated for the design or diagnosis of any organization, from the point of view of its viability. Findings-An outline of the process that enables managers to diagnose or design the organization they manage is formalized in a structured sequence which, starting with the clarification of an organization's identity, purpose and boundaries, guides the whole process of structure creation and the detailed diagnosis of all its structural components from the point of view of its viability. A taxonomy of frequent pathologies that affect organizations is also presented. Practical implications-This kind of framework can guide managers to apply the cybernetic concepts for higher organizational performance, thereby overcoming the oft-bemoaned difficulties in applying these concepts in practice. Originality/value-The paper tries to fill the gap between the conceptual deep theoretical works in OC by Stafford Beer and other researchers, and the need of managers for a structured process that can guide their application. The framework presented tries to provide that kind of guide. It integrates different components within a single framework, which covers the creation of the general structure, the diagnosis of each particular organization within it, the evaluation of the degree of coherence between organizational levels, and a taxonomy of organizational pathologies to facilitate such a structuring. Another contribution is the introduction of the VSMod software, created precisely to facilitate the implementation of the VSM.

Design and diagnosis for viable organizations in practice: university urban planning

“…We can mention, among others, Clemson (1984), Espejo and Harnden (1989), Flood and Jackson (1991), Yolles (1999), Jackson (2000), Schwaninger (2006) and Pérez Ríos (2008aRíos ( , 2010Ríos ( , 2011a. Some of those works have been particularly extensive, as is the case of the VIPLAN software created by Espejo et al (1999) and Espejo and Reyes (2011).…”

“…The concepts used and its basic cybernetic premises, as well as a detailed description of the framework, have been set forth elsewhere (Pérez Ríos, 2008a, 2010, 2011a, so here we will mention only certain main aspects used in the case.…”

Place brand as an emergent property: The case of Vascitour and Naples

“…This condition grants a limited but definite opportunity to create a coherent whole based on the personality of the place (its history, memory, strategies, and so on; Pérez Ríos, ).…”

The Search for Viability: A practitioner's view of how the Viable Systems Model is helping transform English local government (and why it has passed unrecognised)

“…This example closely reflected the ‘Death Spiral’ identified by Hoverstadt () in that governance and oversight of the service was lacking, intelligence was not reacting to environmental threats, operations were ‘reacting’ as best they could, but management, sensing major performance flaws, simply retreated to overwhelming focus on detailed monitoring of operations and staff performance. It was equally apparent that the creation of this ‘spiral’ were the flaws across the Council's systems, precisely the ‘pathologies’ noted by Perez Rios, (, p. 1545) — in structure (i.e. lack of recursion), function (i.e.…”