Managing territory and its complexity: a decision-making model based on the viable system approach (VsA)

The globalization exacerbates the need to conceive sustainable and shared solutions to the dramatic environmental, social and economic issues at a local level, i.e for a specific territory. Satisfying this need asks for a decision-making processes awareness of the specific environmental, social and economic features of the territory itself. Considering the challenge to linking effectiveness and efficiency with a viable sustainability at a local level (par. 1), the paper firstly aims to offer deeper insights in understanding the complex nature of the territory (parr. 2–3), and secondly it proposes a new model, e.g. the ConsulCubo VSA, helpful to support the decision-makers facing the increasing challenge of an effective, efficient and sustainable management of territory (parr. 4 and 5); final remarks are then discussed (par. 6)