[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# The Viable System Model: An Introduction to Theory and Practice

Espinosa A, Walker J, Martinez-Lozada A, 2023, Journal of Systems Thinking 3(1):1-19 — Systems Science

Patterns: [Systems](https://dsrpevidence.org/pattern/systems)

## In short

Introduces Stafford Beer's Viable System Model and how it is used to assess and redesign organizations.

## What they found (results)

Modeling an organization as a network of nodes that are each themselves viable systems lets practitioners map how it really works and assess it against viability criteria — in the case reported, with strong gains in key performance indicators.

## What they set out to do (purpose)

An introduction to Stafford Beer's Viable System Model — the theory, a methodology for guided organizational self-transformation, and a recent application in a Mexican service company.

## Abstract

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.

These researchers were not testing DSRP. The finding is theirs; the correspondence to DSRP is drawn by this site.

[Source](https://doi.org/10.54120/jost.000004)