Systems thinking
Systems thinking contributed in a significant manner to the creation of a new conception of phenomenological reality, as a synthesis of philosophical, sociological, mathematical, physical and biological approaches, influencing culture and its prevalent values founded on the axiomatic corpus of Cartesian thought, has set off a paradigm revolution, moving on from a reductionist-mechanistic approach to reality, and modifying the traditional investigation model. Having rapidly spread to all areas of study, the systems approach has become the result of reflection, theoretical contribution, and formalisation, creating an epistemological approach to research and to the study of a complex reality. The origins ofDescription
The VSA is a scientific approach to business theory that has become increasingly prominent in Italian academic circles in the past decade. Based upon system theory, VSA focuses on the analysis of relationships among socio-economic entities in search of viable interacting conditions (Barile, 2000; Golinelli, 2000). According to VSA, every entity (a business or an individual) can be considered a system of many parts or structures (Parsons, 1971), made up of a group of interlinked sub-components, with the aim of realising a common goal. The viable systems approach proposes a deep analysis of the structure/systems dichotomy, proposing that every system represents a recognisable entity emerging from a specific changing structure (set of individual elements with assigned roles, activities and tasks performing in compliance with rules and constraints). Since a system originates from its structure, its evolution derives from the dynamic activation of static existing basic relationships. A structure can be studied (what it is? How it is made?), a system should only be interpreted (how does it work? What logics does it follow?)". This means that the static structure brings up the recognition of various possible systems dependant on the finalities and final goal; e.g., a human being is composed by many components assembled within a physical structure, but in the dynamic view man and women may be eating, sleeping, playing tennis or bridge, and all of these are different possible system behaviors. Another important VSA proposal is represented in the following figure, derived from Beer's first conceptualization of the decision making area and operating structure. Basically, VSA advances upon Stafford Beer's proposal, based upon the distribution of numerous managerial and operative decisions within the operating structure area. The management system can limit the real decision making to strategic and high level issues, involving every decision maker. In a similar way, we may say that the operating area of a human being involves the decision of going to jog, requiring the person to wear a sport outfit and running shoes; on the other hand, the decision about pursuing higher education, starting a new venture, or practicing within an existing business, may be relegated within the higher control system. In addition, the viable systems approach introduces the conceptual matrix. This is based upon an iterative process of conception and realization of a viable system. It starts from an idea that needs to be framed within a logical model, then expressed in a physical structure. Once the physical structure is defined it can relate with external resources and systems, embracing them within an extended structure that, via its dynamics, can give birth to numerous specific structures and eventually end up to be a viable system. This recursive process may represent the development of a business just as much as an industrial district.VSA origins
Starting from this theoretical basis, the VSA has integrated several multidisciplinary contributions, applying them to the observation of complex entities. Principally, it has developed its theory around several key concepts derived by other disciplines: from system thinking (open system aspects), from natural and ecological sciences (particularly the organic aspects of homeostasis andKey concepts
Some founding concepts of the VSA should be made clear to the reader (Golinelli 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009; Golinelli et al., 2002; Barile 2000, 2006, 2008, 2009a): # a viable system lives; that is, its aim is to survive within a context which is populated by other (viable) systems; # every context is subjectively perceived by a viable system's top management (the decision-maker) from analyzing its environment (a macro-system in which the decision maker is submerged) distinguishing and identifying its relevant supra-systems (resources owners) in relation with its objective; # context defines the potential of viable systems, within which are a few higher-level systems (relevant supra-systems) able to constrain top management decisions; # the system's structural definition and the level of consonance between its evolved components (interacting supra and sub systems), define a given system's effectiveness # a viable system has the capability of dynamically adjusting (auto-regulating) its structure: hence we may refer consonance to the system's attempt to correctly interpret contextual signals, and resonance to the expression of the associated adaptive behavior; a system is stable if it satisfies external expectations and needs displayed by relevant supra-systems.Fundamental concepts
VSA applications
* Decision making *See also
*References
* ASHBY, H.R. (1958), "General Systems Theory as a New Discipline", in General Systems (Yearbook of the Society for the Advancement of General Systems Theory), vol.3, pp. 1–6. * BARILE, S., (2000), eds., Contributi sul pensiero sistemico, Arnia, Salerno. * BARILE, S., SAVIANO, M., PELS, J., POLESE, F., CARRUBBO, L. (2014) "The contribution of VSA and SDl. Perspectives to Strategic Thinking in Emerging Economies", Managing Service Quality, Vol.24, n.6, pp. 565–591. * BEER, S. (1972), Brain of the Firm, The Penguin Press, London. * CAPRA, F. (1997), The Web of Life, Flamingo, London. * CLARK, A. (1993), Associative Engines, MIT Press, Boston. * GOLINELLI, G.M. (2010), Viable Systems Approach – Governing Business Dynamics, Kluwer/CEDAM, Padova. * LUHMANN, N. (1990), Soziale Sisteme – Grundriß einer Allgemeinen Theorie, Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt. * MATURNANA, H.R. and VARELA, F.J. (1975), Autopoietic Systems, BLC Report 9, University of Illinois. * PARSONS, T. (1971), The System of Modern Societies, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs. * VON BERTALANFFY, L. (1968), General System Theory – Foundations, Development, Applications, George Braziller, New York. * WIENER, N., Cybernetics, MIT Press, 1948.Further reading
* BARABÁSI, A.L. (2002), Linked – The New Science of Networks, Perseus, Cambridge. * BARILE, S. (2008), L'impresa come Sistema – Contributi sull'Approccio Sistemico Vitale, II ed., Giappichelli, Torino. * BARILE, S. (2009a), Management Sistemico Vitale, Giappichelli, Torino. * BARILE, S. (2009b), "The dynamic of Information Varieties in the Processes of Decision Making", Proceedings of the 13th WMSCI - World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, Orlando, July. * BARILE, S., PELS, J., POLESE, F., SAVIANO, M. (2012), "An Introduction to the Viable Systems Approach and its Contribution to Marketing" in Journal of Business Market Management, Vol.5, No.2, pp. 54–78, http://www.jbm-online.net/index.php/jbm/article/view/14. * BARILE, S. (Ed.) (2013), Contributions to theoretical and practical advances in management. A Viable Systems Approach (VSA), Vol. II, Roma, ARACNE. * BARILE, S. and POLESE, F. (2010), "Linking Viable Systems Approach and Many-to-Many Network Approach to Service-Dominant Logic and Service Science", in International Journal of Quality and Service Science, vol.2, n.1, pp. 23–42. * BARILE, S. and SAVIANO, M. (2011), "Foundations of systems thinking: the structure-system paradigm", in VARIOUS AUTHORS, Contributions to theoretical and practical advances in management. A Viable Systems Approach (VSA). ASVSA, Associazione per la Ricerca sui Sistemi Vitali, International Printing Srl, Avellino, pp. 1–26. * BARILE, S., PELS, J., POLESE, F., SAVIANO, M. (2012), "An Introduction to the Viable Systems Approach and its Contribution to Marketing", in Journal of Business, Market, Management, vol.5, n.2, pp. 54–78. * BEER, S. (1975), "Preface", in H.R., MATURNANA and F.J. VARELA, Autopoietic Systems, BLC Report 9, University of Illinois. * CAPRA, F. (2002), The Hidden Connections, HarperCollins, London. * CHRISTOPHER, W.F. (2007), Holistic Management – Managing What Matters for Company Success, Wiley-Interscience. Hoboken. * GOLINELLI, G., PASTORE, A., GATTI, M., MASSARONI, E. and VAGNANI, G. (2002), "The Firm as a Viable System – Managing Inter-Organisational Relationships", in Sinergie, n.58, pp. 65–98. * GOLINELLI, G.M. (2000), L'approccio Sistemico al Governo dell'Impresa – L'Impresa Sistema Vitale, I ed., CEDAM, Padova. * GOLINELLI, G.M. (2001), "Firm as a Viable System", in Symphonya. Emerging Issues in Management (www.unimib.it/symphonya), n. 2., pp. * GOLINELLI, G.M. (2005), L'approccio Sistemico al Governo dell'Impresa. – L'Impresa Sistema Vitale, II ed., CEDAM, Padova. * GOLINELLI, G.M. (2008), L'approccio Sistemico al Governo dell'Impresa – Verso la Scientificazione dell'Azione di Governo, vol.II, II ed., CEDAM, Padova. * GOLINELLI, G.M. (2010), Viable Systems Approach (VSA), Governing Business Dynamics, Kluwer Cedam, Padova. * GOLINELLI, G.M., GATTI, M., VAGNANI, G. and GATTI, C. (2001), "Managing The Firm as a Viable System", Euram (European Academy of Management) Proceedings: European Management Research – Trends and Challenges, IESE, Barcelona, April 20–21. * GUMMESSON, E. (2008), Total Relationship Marketing, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford. * GUMMESSON, E., MELE, C. and POLESE, F. (2009), "Service Science, S-D logic and Network Theory – Integrating the Perspectives for a New Research Agenda", in E., GUMMESSON, C., MELE and F., POLESE, Service Science, S-D Logic and Network Theory, Giappichelli, Napoli, pp. 1–6. * HANNAN, M.T. and FREEMAN, J. (1977), "The Population Ecology of Organizations", American Journal of Sociology, vol.82, n.5, pp. 929–964. * SPOHRER, J., ANDERSON, L., PASS, N. and AGER, T. (2008), "Service Science and Service Dominant Logic", Otago Forum 2, pp. 4–18. * SPOHRER, J., MAGLIO, P.P., BAILEY, J. and GRUHL, D. (2007), "Steps Toward a Science of Service Systems", Computer, pp. 71–77. * VARGO, S.L. and LUSCH, R. (2008), "Service-Dominant Logic – Continuing the Evolution", Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, vol.36, pp. 1–10. * VARGO, S.L. and LUSCH, R.F. (2004), "Evolving to a New Dominant Logic for Marketing", Journal of Marketing, vol.68, pp. 1–17. * VON BERTALANFFY, L. (1956), "General System Theory", in F.E., EMERY (eds.), General System, (Yearbook of the Society for the Advancement of General System Theory). * VON BERTALANFFY, L. (1962), Modern Theories of Development, Harper, New York. * WEICK, K. E. (1995), Sensemaking in Organizations. Sage, Thousand Oaks. {{DEFAULTSORT:Viable Systems Approach Systems theory