SCiO is pleased to again be running the intermediate workshop in modelling using the viable systems model. This is an opportunity to learn practical diagnostic techniques to analyse and design organisations.

The Workshop

This is a whole day workshop which follows on from the workshop on the structure of an organisation and provides training in analysing the dynamics of an organisation using VSM. The attendees work together in groups to develop their model of a case study organisation and to diagnose weaknesses.

The workshop will introduce a set of tools used to understand and model the dynamics of organisations which the groups will then apply to the case study organisation. The tools introduced will include modelling complexity balances using amplifiers and attenuators, flow, and the dynamics of strategic relationships. We will look at how Ashby’s law affects the organisation, and work through how specific complexity imbalances drive instability in the organisation, its operations, strategy and relationships and how these three interact with one another.

The case study is based on the same real organisation used in the structures workshop – a medium sized IT and office supplies company and provides a platform for developing the skills needed to take normal organisational information, show how that relates to the VSM and how the VSM can provide a set of new insights into the company.

The workshop will be run by Patrick Hoverstadt of Fractal.

Prior to attending on the 2nd April 2016, a free online refresher course will be made available. This pre-course is designed to prepare attendees, and will cover:

- a video refresher on how Stafford Beer created the viable systems model

- the case study to be used, with targeted slides on the VSM method

This optional material is about 4 hours long, and will be presented via e-mail, and an optional online learning environment. This material will help refresh attendees who have been on the SC101 beginner course, or help prepare those who have not been on the beginner's course.

Booking

The workshop is open to members and non-members of SCiO. The fee for members and OU students is £20 and for all others is £100. Places are limited, so please book early. Please book through EventBrite.