Theories of Viability: a Comparison

Given the growing complexities in the environments of organizations and societies, the concept of viability has become ever more important as an orientator for those in charge. The Systems Approach has bred powerful theories of viability, which can help actors in the socio-technical domain to cope with complexity. The two main manifestations of the Theory of Viability are Living Systems Theory (LST) by Jim & Jessie Miller on one hand and the Viable System Model (VSM) by Stafford Beer on the other. In this paper, both are analysed and compared in terms of their relevance and potential with respect to social systems. Also, a brief overview of the state of pertinent applications is given. The paper comes to an unexpected conclusion: LST and VSM are not competititors, but most probably complementary.