Human resources for governing business dynamics. The Viable Systems Approach

The aim of the paper is to examine further and define “how” and “why” the Viable Systems Approach (VSA) may contribute to a rational and conscious need of governance for service systems (so called, government entities). In his book “Viable Systems Approach. Governing Business Dynamics”, Golinelli defines governance as the decision-making, strategically relevant, based mainly on the decision making processes, i.e. processes oriented to reduce the decision complexity and to ensure sufficient conditions of viability of the organizational system. Thus, if the business is qualified as viable system - that is able to survive in a context of supra systems - then its government (top decision maker or policy maker) is eligible to take the decision to reduce operational complexity and determine appropriate locations for the achievement of systemic goals. In this context, the methodological framework of the Viable Systems Approach, (VSA) is able to explain “how” business entity is able to live in its context and “why” a careful and enlightened governance is able to ensure the pursuit of corporate objectives ensuring adequate conditions for overall equi-finality. In fact, the action of the decision maker requires the maturation of experience and expertise to support the government - in his triple role identity: governance, management and administration - in the decisions which: 1) co-create systemic value; 2) characterize the sustainable “competitive advantage”; 3) define “results”, i.e. to establish the conditions for systems effectiveness in the context. Complex decisions of governance-management-administration allow adequate conditions of elasticity and flexibility, and, therefore, provide a diachronic viability to the business system as a result of co-evolutionary dynamic equilibrium. The homeostatic balance of the system, in fact, is guaranteed by the verification of a dual effect: that of consonance (towards the external environment) on the one hand, and that on competitiveness (perception of the market with regard to competitors) on the other had