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The number of approaches, researchers and practitioners in Systems Thinking has been growing over the last decades and particularly in recent years. This wide and deep evolution within the systems community that is a sign of vitality has also increased the communication difficulties among its components. If the systems community wants to overcome these difficulties and help cross fertilisation, adequate structures are needed to facilitate the communication processes. In this work, we present a communication and exchange of information system specifically designed for this aim. It tries to use the possibilities offered by Internet to create a systems thinkers/practitioners virtual community with the capacity to facilitate the creation of as many new partial communities as the members of the systems community wish. The design of the network system is based on Beer's viable system model and his recursive conception of viable systems.

This paper seeks to propose an innovative approach to the assessment of the effectiveness of organizational structures.

Explores a concept for the measurement of the fractal dimensionality of living organisms, applying it from biology to social organizations.

The fractal dimensionality of an organization normally lies in the range of 2.2‐2.3, if it is optimal.

The paper's limitations lie in the fact that it is not yet based on experimental evidence from real‐world organizations.

The findings of this paper give valuable impetus to the methodology of organizing.

Presents the full text of the Presidential Address by Stafford Beer to the Triennial Congress of the World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics, New Delhi, India, January 1993. Introduces the components of contemporary change and discusses the diagnostic approach of management cybernetics. Outlines a summary theory of autonomy and considers autonomy at the global level. Offers an account of the cybernetics of chronic societary triage, developing an analysis of triage through category A, B and C partition. Produces a summary theory of team syntegrity and discusses the power and the use of the team syntegrity model. Finally, outlines an action plan for World Syntegration.

This paper attempts to show how the new communication and information technologies and the internet in particular can help in the design of viable organizations.

The paper presents a set of specific software tools based on internet, created for the purpose as given above. The tools are bundled in two packages. The VDMod package supports the application of Beer's viable system model (VSM) and the inclusion of system dynanics simulation models into the VSM model, as well as easy access to other tools such as team syntegrity. The SystemsNet package allows the members of the systems community to communicate with each other and gain swift access to these tools through the internet.

Communication and information technologies are enablers which help in the design of viable organizations by means of internet‐based software tools. They make the application of systemic approaches such as Beer's VSM and its combined use with System Dynamics (SD), or other methodologies and tools, easier and more readily accessible.

The paper refers mainly to Organizational Cybernetics and SD and does not take into consideration all other systems‐thinking methodologies.

This paper reveals the possibility of very easy access to software tools for applying the VSM and its combined use with SD as well as facilitating communication among systems‐thinking field members.

This paper contributes to the design of more viable organizations by providing researchers and practitioners of Organizational Cybernetics with the requisite software tools.

The purpose of this paper is to expose how organizational cybernetics (OC)-related concepts could be used in combination with information and communication technologies (ICT) to facilitate group discussions on complex issues, and to show its impact in a real case.

A software inspired by OC and team syntegrity concepts has been developed with the aim of helping groups of people to deliberate around complex issues through the internet. Two groups of persons with similar backgrounds were chosen to pursue a deliberation process around the same issue. One had the support of ICT while the other did not. The authors used the same questionnaires with both groups, aimed at getting qualitative and quantitative information about the results obtained in each case.

The results obtained show that the group working with ICT support did produce a better output (quality and quantity) than the group not supported with ICT as well as a higher degree of satisfaction in practically all indicators than the second group.

The authors are dealing with only one experiment and therefore cannot make a generalization. It would be desirable to repeat the experiment with various groups and in different contexts.

An internet-based software inspired by OC concepts was created to facilitate the first phases (generation and aggregation of ideas) of a deliberation process and the authors measured, in an experiment with two groups of people with similar backgrounds, the impact of using it on the quality and quantity of information produced through the process.

This paper aims to present the findings from research that sought to evaluate the construction industry's approach to information management at the project level and to review the operation of an information management systems (IMS) on selected projects.

Data from three IMS used on three separate construction projects were extracted over a four‐year period as the life of the construction stage of each project came to an end. Three distinct databases of the IMS were analysed and document statistics were extracted to demonstrate the level of activity within the construction project, and between members of the construction team, using a simple counting technique for each document type.

The paper finds that major construction projects generate, process and store considerable quantities of real‐time information prior to, during, and post on‐site construction. The construction activities are shrouded in information and management of the construction project requires appropriate systems which facilitate bi‐directional data input, information processing, dissemination and functional access. Historically, the onus of storing, disseminating and managing project information has fallen to each of the individual project team members of the many organisations involved within the project. Hardware advances, coupled with improved electronic and paper‐based IMS facilitate synergistic standardised filing and information control, which reduces the reliance on each individual or organisation to undertake the task of storing and controlling information. An IMS also has the capability to engage with performance management and reporting systems which aid not only management of the project, but also management of the organisation.

Case reviews show that in today's complex construction environment the use of an appropriate IMS has the potential to bring about team syntegrity and engender increased collaboration and integration among project members. The findings from completed projects exemplify a number of benefits to be accrued from adoption of an IMS and the resultant change in operating culture. Crucially, however, the pitfalls of such IMS systems are also identified.

The findings provide new knowledge about the management of information from construction projects.

This paper aims to extend the scope of the viable system model (VSM), which was developed by Stafford Beer in favour of its formalisation and practical application, to overcome the criticism about its abstract nature.

This extension is achieved using the descriptive validation of a software project structural organisation based on the information that was obtained from the ICT sector set of companies in Castilla y León.

The main conclusion of the study indicates deficiencies in the proactive environmental control of the software project. To overcome these shortcomings at least partially, the author proposes the use of integrated dynamic simulation models and Team Syntegrity. Finally, the analysis provides a detailed reference to diagnose or design a software project organisational structure with viability-defined characteristics. Such reference can be adapted to different fields by extrapolating its application in favour of the VSM universality.

The originality is based on the VSM application in software projects organisation. The value is based on VSM formalisation and practical application, to overcome the criticism about its abstract nature.

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the legacy of Stafford Beer and the continuing implications of his work on Cybersyn and the models and tools he used and explored during the project and in his later work.

Description of Stafford Beer’s work on Cybersyn and examples of its present day applicability.

The values and tools associated with the Cybersyn work in Chile continue to be relevant for the challenges of the present and an example of an approach to management structure and practice that serves both efficiency and humanity.

The value of this work is to contribute to the history and future possibilities of the ideas and tools pioneered in the Cybersyn project by Stafford Beer and others and their broader context in organizational cybernetics.

Presents the Viable System Model, developed by Stafford Beer, as a potentially valuable resource for strengthening the capabilities of temporary, situation‐based organizations such as those assembled to respond to natural, technical and man‐made disasters. Describes a Viable System Model of a response to a small‐scale accident and extends its lessons to larger more complex situations. Suggests that the management of the high levels of variety in multifaceted disaster response efforts could be improved by using the model as a common frame of reference.