Title: Behaviour conceptual modelling for vulnerability and risk management using viable system model framework

Authors: Avelino Isaias Mondlane

Addresses: Stockholm University, Department of Computer and Systems Science, Forum 100, SE – 164 40 Kista, Sweden

Abstract: Managing organisation is a challenge, especially when handling critical information for the normal functioning of systems; modern organisations demand progressive management since they are no longer like the one in the Industrial Era. People, processes and information must be handled with care, according to recommended procedures. Poor managed systems reinforce exposure to many risks that can be both natural and manmade. Hence, human behaviour influence the organisational cultures in order to make them viable so that one can prevent failures, and ensure that if risks cannot be avoided at least can be handled and preventive measure for mitigation and coping are in place. So, if viability and good management is one side of the coin, vulnerability to risk is the other. In this paper, we apply Stafford Beer's viable system model (VSM) as a management tool to evaluate the dynamic and interaction of an existing organisation with its surrounding environment.

Keywords: viable system models; VSM; vulnerability; Millennium Village; expected utility; risk management; human behaviour; organisational culture; Stafford Beer; behavioural modelling; conceptual modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIIM.2012.044458

International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, 2012 Vol.3 No.1, pp.1 - 14

Published online: 02 Sep 2014 *

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