Abstract
Over the years, research has documented the application of the Viable System Model (VSM) across technological, organisational, and societal contexts. Despite documented applications, a recurring theme in the literature is that non-academics or non-academic-oriented practitioners find it difficult to understand and apply VSM effectively.
This paper introduces a different diagrammatic representation integrated with the DMAIC cycle to facilitate understanding and operationalisation of VSM for general management audience. To support conceptual clarity, the proposed approach is termed Viable System Model – Reimagined (VSM-R).
This research is guided by interpretivism and pragmatism with an abductive reasoning approach to support iterative development enabling the generation of new conceptual insights. A case study strategy is adopted based on an SME in the United Kingdom.
The case study application has enabled the evaluation of practical understanding and accessibility of VSM-R. Initial observations show that the VSM-R is easily understood and being effectively implemented.