Monthly Archives: April 2012

Subsystem 5 of the Viable System Model : policy

Posted on April 30, 2012 by csl4d

This is the third post in this blog on the Viable System Model (VSM). It follows on a general introduction to VSM and overviews of the more operational subsystem 3 and the more strategic subsystem 4. Subsystem 5 is about … Continue reading →

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Subsystem 4 of the Viable System Model : intelligence

Posted on April 30, 2012 by csl4d

This is the third post in this blog on the Viable System Model (VSM). It follows on a general introduction to VSM and an overview of the more operational subsystem 3. Subsystem 4 is about intelligence, strategy, forward planning, and … Continue reading →

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Subsystem 3 of the Viable System Model : cohesion

Posted on April 30, 2012 by csl4d

The heart of below concept map is formed by the diamond in the middle. Subsystem 3 is concerned with delivery management, i.e. the task of making sure that the primary operations can be carried out without disruption. This is the … Continue reading →

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The Viable System Model

Posted on April 29, 2012 by csl4d

Around 1970, Stafford Beer developed the viable system model to diagnose the faults in any organizational system, programme, institution, nation, or enterprise. It uses cybernetics, which – according to its originator Norbert Wiener – is the study of control and … Continue reading →

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How bullets can save the day (sometimes, for me at least)

Posted on April 4, 2012 by csl4d

As you may be well aware, mind maps are very popular and there is an enormous variety of mind map tools on the Internet. More than 300 have been collected at http://www.mind-mapping.org. And if 300+ is a bit much, just … Continue reading →

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A very, very short introduction to SODA

Posted on April 2, 2012 by csl4d

According to SODA (Strategic Options Development and Analysis), well-structured strategies have a network of goals supported by a network of strategic objectives, which are in turn supported by a hierarchy of tangible actions, see also here. Not unlike concept mapping, … Continue reading →

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