Viable System Model (VSM)

The Viable System Model is a tool to model the organizational structure of a system. It was invented by Stafford Beer in the 1970s.

While it can be used in numerous domains, this template consists of an example of applying the VSM to a modern tech startup, together with a blank VSM. The latter can be used in a workshop setting, where participants can model their own organization. The resulting model can be used to get an improved, holistic understanding of the different functions, interactions, and tools in the current state, paving the way for potential improvements.