1. Organizational cybernetics: a modified perspective Dirk Vriens Jan Achterbergh Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands

2. Cybernetics: effective methods for studying and controlling complex systens Organizational cybernetics: effective methods for studying and controlling organizations Beer - main contribution: VSM: functions for viability Application of VSM to study and control organizations

3. Three modifications are needed to understand and control organizations Modification 1: the social dimension Understanding and controlling organizations in their societal environment implies knowledge about: the social nature of organizations The social nature of (modern) society The relation between organization and society Therefore organizational cybernetics should include social theory

4. Modification 2: viability Understanding and controlling organizations in their societal environment needs a respecification of viability Beer: Being able to maintain a separate existence Respecification: Viability beyond survival: ‘living a fulfilled life’ (developing a system’s specific capacties to their full extent) Application to organizations in their societal environment: enabling the fulfilled life of individuals organizational members society

5. Modification 3: infrastructural conditions Understanding and controlling organizations in their societal environment needs: designing infrastructural conditions for realizing the functions needed for viability Which designs for: organizational structures HR-systems Technology enhance the realization of the five functions?

6. To understand and control organizations in their societal environment organizational cybernetics needs: 1.Social theory: e.g. Luhmann’s theory of social systems 2.A ‘broad’ and ‘applied’ concept of viability: e.g. based on Aristotle’s ethics and politics 3.Theory for designing organizational structures, HR- systems, and technology enhancing the realization of the five functions