1. IESS 1.1
Feb 16-18, 2011
Geneva
On Viable Service Systems: Developing a
Modeling Framework for Analysis of Viability
in Service Systems
Arash Golnam, Gil Regev and Alain Wegmann

2. Why Model?
Communication
Simplification
Real World World of
of Problems Models
Idealism Design
Decision Realism
Making
Complexity Simplicity
Insolvability Solvability
Optimization
Analysis
Synthesis
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3. What Models?
Disorganized Complexity
• Living, open systems with irreducible wholes
RANDOMNESS
• Wholes are more than sum of parts
Organized Properties and
• High interdependence parts that can not be
Complexity Assumptions
treated in isolation
Organized • Properties of the system can not be inferred
Simplicity
from those of component sub-systems
Problem Type
COMPLEXITY
• Reasoning: Informal reasoning and judgment
• Evidence: Intuitive perceived facts
• Generalizations: Quasi laws
Methods of Wicked / ill Structured
• Models: Heuristic-based Inquiry
• Explanations: Perceived causal relationships
• Predictions: Intuitive based on considerations
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4. How to Model?
Modeler
Representation Domain Reality
Universe of Discourse
Modeling Constructs Entities
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5. Reality
Universe of Discourse
Universe of Discourse
• Services Industriels de Genève (SIG)
• Viable Service System (VSS)
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6. Conceptualizations
• General Systems
Theory (GST)
• Stafford Beer’s Viable
System Model (VSM)
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7. Conceptual Model
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8. Representation Domain
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15. Summary
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16. • An integration of generic systems thinking principles into
What is discipline-specific methods.
SEAM?
• A methodology for business - IT alignment.
• Developed in LAMS, EPFL.
History
• Applied for teaching and consulting since 2001
• General Systems Theory
Foundations • Organizational cybernetics
• RM-ODP (A software engineering ISO standard)
• SEAM for Business
Applications • SEAM for Enterprise Architecture
• SEAM for Software Engineering
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17. THANK YOU
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