Sustainable Self-Governance in Businesses and Society: The Viable System Model in Action

Sustainable Self-Governance in Businesses and Society provides an introduction to Stafford Beers' Viable System Model (VSM) and its relevance to support organizational sustainability and self-governance. The book explains the self-transformation methodology to analyze how organizations manage complexity and govern themselves, supported by examples from various organizations. It highlights how the VSM theory can enhance organizational learning, change, and self-organization, enabling them to implement sustainability strategies and self-govern. The book is valuable for managers, consultants, practitioners, and post-graduate students interested in organizational transformation, governance, and sustainability.

Format: Hardback
Length: 286 pages
Publication date: 19 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Sustainable Self-Governance in Businesses and Society presents a comprehensive and insightful introduction to Stafford Beers' Viable System Model (VSM), a framework that plays a crucial role in supporting organizational sustainability and self-governance. While the VSM has been recognized since the early 1980s, its complexity and application have sometimes posed challenges for practitioners. This book aims to demystify the VSM and elucidate its relevance in facilitating organizational transformation and self-governance.

The book begins by providing a thorough overview of the VSM, explaining its core principles and framework. It then delves into the self-transformation methodology, which enables organizations to analyze their complexity and govern themselves effectively. Through this methodology, organizations can identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance their adaptability, agility, and self-regulation.

To support its arguments, the book offers numerous examples of application across various organizations of different scales, ranging from small to multinational corporations and from organized social networks to communities and national organizations. These examples showcase the practical relevance of Beers' theory in supporting systemic learning and change within organizations, as well as guiding them toward self-organization and self-governance.

Furthermore, the book emphasizes the importance of applying insights from complex systems and cybernetics theories to design and transform organizations. It provides detailed guidance on how to implement the VSM theory in practice, highlighting its potential to improve adaptive capabilities, agile and self-regulated structures, and ultimately enable organizations to fully implement corporate sustainability strategies and govern themselves effectively.

The chapters in this book are designed to cater to a wide range of readers, including managers, consultants, practitioners, and post-graduate students engaged in organizational transformation, governance, and sustainability. Each chapter offers valuable insights and practical strategies that can be applied in real-world contexts.

In conclusion, Sustainable Self-Governance in Businesses and Society is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand and apply the VSM theory in supporting organizational sustainability and self-governance. By providing a comprehensive and practical guide, this book empowers organizations to navigate the complexities of today's dynamic business environment and achieve long-term success.

Weight: 734g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138590793