The use and application of Stafford Beer's 'Viable System Model' as a diagnostic tool

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorRyan, Tom Ben_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSmart, Michael Charlesen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-07-04T08:44:16Z
dc.date.available2016-07-04T08:44:16Z
dc.date.issued1999en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis research project is about one of the many tools available to the manager to evaluate an organisation, Stafford Beer's Viable System Model. The model as derived in his book 'The Heart of Enterprise', is reviewed in depth as part of the research. The model is then used to diagnose two organisations, a network marketing organisation, a growing and successful enterprise, and an engineering jobbing shop, an enterprise struggling to survive. It is shown how the successful enterprise conforms to the Viable System Model and the struggling one does not. The network marketing company is further examined to identify elements that contribute to its success and it is shown that these elements do not exist in the engineering jobbing shop. A proposal is then put forward on how to reorganise the engineering jobbing shop and implement the elements of success identified in the network marketing organisation. The research concludes by acknowledging that while it is beyond the scope of this research to categorically conclude that an enterprise must conform to the Viable System Model to be viable, the two specific companies researched here do suggest this. This is in agreement with Stafford Beer's contention that for an organisation to be viable it must at the very least conform to the Viable System Model. It is further concluded that the research demonstrates the usefulness of the Viable System Model in the evaluation of an organisation.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationSmart, M. C. (1999). <i>The use and application of Stafford Beer's 'Viable System Model' as a diagnostic tool</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Mechanical Engineering. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20198en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSmart, Michael Charles. <i>"The use and application of Stafford Beer's 'Viable System Model' as a diagnostic tool."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Mechanical Engineering, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20198en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSmart, M. 1999. The use and application of Stafford Beer's 'Viable System Model' as a diagnostic tool. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Smart, Michael Charles AB - This research project is about one of the many tools available to the manager to evaluate an organisation, Stafford Beer's Viable System Model. The model as derived in his book 'The Heart of Enterprise', is reviewed in depth as part of the research. The model is then used to diagnose two organisations, a network marketing organisation, a growing and successful enterprise, and an engineering jobbing shop, an enterprise struggling to survive. It is shown how the successful enterprise conforms to the Viable System Model and the struggling one does not. The network marketing company is further examined to identify elements that contribute to its success and it is shown that these elements do not exist in the engineering jobbing shop. A proposal is then put forward on how to reorganise the engineering jobbing shop and implement the elements of success identified in the network marketing organisation. The research concludes by acknowledging that while it is beyond the scope of this research to categorically conclude that an enterprise must conform to the Viable System Model to be viable, the two specific companies researched here do suggest this. This is in agreement with Stafford Beer's contention that for an organisation to be viable it must at the very least conform to the Viable System Model. It is further concluded that the research demonstrates the usefulness of the Viable System Model in the evaluation of an organisation. DA - 1999 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1999 T1 - The use and application of Stafford Beer's 'Viable System Model' as a diagnostic tool TI - The use and application of Stafford Beer's 'Viable System Model' as a diagnostic tool UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20198 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/20198
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSmart MC. The use and application of Stafford Beer's 'Viable System Model' as a diagnostic tool. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Mechanical Engineering, 1999 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20198en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Mechanical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherMechanical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.titleThe use and application of Stafford Beer's 'Viable System Model' as a diagnostic toolen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_ebe_1999_smart_michael_charles.pdf
Size:
3.12 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters