Cette thèse rappelle les fondements du pilotage des systèmes logistiques et montre l'intérêt de la mise en place d'un SCP (Systèmes Contrôlés par le Produit). L'intégration de tels systèmes doit d'abord prendre en compte la cohérence entre les différents éléments le constituant. Ainsi les systèmes centralisés cherchent à proposer des plans de moyen-long termes visant un optimal de coût, mais aussi une certaine stabilité et peu de nervosité dans le temps. Par ailleurs, les systèmes distribués ont démontré leur capacité à permettre une réaction rapide à des événements impromptus survenant dans le système physique. L'hybridation de ces deux types de pilotage est donc une voie de gain de productivité pour les systèmes logistiques et industriels. Le premier chapitre de la thèse décrit l'évolution des systèmes de planification et de pilotage de la production, avec l'objectif d'identifier les forces et faiblesses des différentes approches proposées jusqu'à nos jours et permettent définir l'objectif général de la thèse. Le chapitre deux analyse l'état de l'art concernant les outils de modélisation des systèmes de production centralisés/distribués et aussi le concept de contrôle par le produit. Ce chapitre sert de base pour définir les objectifs spécifiques de la thèse. Le chapitre trois présente le cadre de modélisation proposé. Ce cadre est basé sur une approche cybernétique, et plus spécifiquement sur le modèle de système viable (VSM). Le chapitre démarre avec une présentation générale du modèle de système viable, puis présente un modèle générique de modélisation de systèmes contrôlés par le produit. Enfin, le chapitre décrit une application de ce cadre général aux systèmes de planification et pilotage de la production de type SCP. Le chapitre quatre définit les différentes méthodes de décision, tant centralisées que distribuées, développées pour l'implémentation du modèle générique définit dans le chapitre trois. Aux niveaux centralisés et distribués ces méthodes sont basées sur des modèles de programmation mathématique développés pour considérer l'adaptabilité et la flexibilité du système. Le chapitre cinq montre les principaux résultats dans une application basée sur un cas industriel qui a nécessité le développement d'un outil de simulation qui considère des variables de court, moyen et long termes pour les différents modèles d'optimisation. Ces résultats montrent l'intérêt de ce type d'hybridation / This thesis is concerned with the foundations of the planning and control logistics systems and shows the interest of the PDS (Product-driven Systems) applied in this context. The development of such systems must consider the coherence between the different components. Centralized systems offer long terms plans aiming an optimal cost, but also some stability and nervousness reduction. Distributed systems allow a fast reaction to perturbations happening in the physical system. Then, the hybridization of these two kinds of planning and control systems is a way of increase productivity for logistic and industrial systems. The first chapter of the thesis describes the evolution of the production planning and control systems, to identify forces and weaknesses of the different approaches proposed until our days and allow to define the general objective of the thesis. Chapter two analyses the state of the art concerning the tools for modeling hybrid centralized/distributed production systems and also the concept of product-driven systems. This chapter serves as a basis to define the specific objectives of the thesis. Chapter three introduces the proposed modeling framework. This framework is based on a cybernetic approach, and more specifically in the Viable System Model (VSM). The chapter starts with a general presentation of VSM and then introduces a generic framework to model PDS. Finally, this chapter describes an application for production planning and control. Chapter four defines the different decision methods developed for the implementation of the generic model defined in the chapter three. At centralized and distributed levels these methods are based on mathematical programming models. Chapter five shows the main results of an application based on an industrial case which required the development of a simulation tool which considers variables of short, médium and long terms for the different optimization models. These results show the interest of this type of hybridization

Cybernetics is the science of effective organization, i.e. the science that describes the general principles of growth, learning and adaptation in complex, dynamical systems. Stafford Beer regards his viable system model as a design for effective formal organization. He also declares that since his model is explicitly based upon the principles of cybernetics, it facilitates consideration of what is and is not possible within formal organizations and provides guidance in creating efficient structures. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate and test Stafford Beer's ideas on the viable system model via the simulation of certain business activities. A methodology for getting access to the cybernetic body of knowledge is given as well as examples of cybernetic laws relevant to managerial and business practice. An important part of the work is devoted to the explanation and discussion of Stafford Beer's viable system model, and the importance it represents as a cybernetic method for the design of organizational structures. Simulation models incorporating the major activities of a business firm are represented and used as case studies to investigate how basic industrial organizations based on Beer's viable system model work under operational conditions.

O desenvolvimento municipal sustentável é um fenômeno complexo. Para que seja possível entender tal fenômeno, é necessário levar em consideração como se comportam as diversas variáveis de dimensões distintas e a interação de uma grande quantidade de atores envolvidos em um processo dinâmico, transformando constantemente o sistema social de uma determinada região. Esta dissertação tem em sua essência, ser um trabalho que está de acordo com o novo paradigma da ciência, descartando explicações simples e prontas sobre o desenvolvimento. Busca agregar toda a complexidade, instabilidade e intersubjetividade que o assunto compreende. Assim, o principal objetivo deste trabalho é desenvolver e diagnosticar o sistema de administração das prefeituras municipais para o desenvolvimento sustentável, tendo como base os objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável (ODS), utilizando como métodos o Viable System Model (VSM) em prefeituras municipais e a criação de Indicador Sistêmico-Cibernético de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ISCDS) por meio da análise fatorial (AF) para os municípios do estado de São Paulo. Os objetivos específicos também são desenvolvidos de maneira a contribuir ao objetivo principal. Dentre eles estão: diferenciar os diversos conceitos de desenvolvimento, identificar e delimitar o sistema onde acontece o desenvolvimento local, verificar como os ODS podem ser uma forma de promover o desenvolvimento sistêmico, identificar as principais variáveis secundárias que podem compor o desenvolvimento local e que estejam ligadas a cada um dos objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável da ONU, desenvolver um indicador capaz de medir o desenvolvimento sistêmico utilizando os ODS e, por fim, identificar as diferenças entre os municípios do estado de São Paulo criando agrupamentos de municípios semelhantes. Para tanto, este é um trabalho sistêmico tanto em sua filosofia quanto estrutura, adotando métodos e técnicas tanto quantitativas como qualitativas para se chegar aos resultados das perguntas de pesquisa. Para que fosse possível obter conhecimento suficiente acerca dos temas tratados e propor uma base metodológica sólida de modo a mostrar os resultados esperados, optou-se por realizar um amplo referencial teórico, envolvendo três itens: desenvolvimento, abordagens sistêmico-cibernéticas e objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável. Os resultados mostraram que é possível aplicar o VSM no sistema administrativo das prefeituras municipais, sendo uma poderosa ferramenta para administrar o a prefeitura de maneira eficiente e também útil para identificar diversas falhas sistêmicas, conforme são expostas nas considerações finais deste trabalho. Por meio da análise fatorial, tendo como base os ODS, foi possível desenvolver um modelo para se medir o desenvolvimento sustentável sistêmico municipal: o ISCDS para os 645 municípios do estado de São Paulo. A partir da obtenção do ISCDS, foram encontrados sete clusters com características diferentes, indicando a necessidade de tratativas administrativas diferentes que visem o desenvolvimento sustentável para cada agrupamento encontrado. / Sustainable municipal development is a complex phenomenon. To understand this phenomenon, it is necessary to take into account not only the way of huge number variables of different dimensions behave, but also how the large number of actors are involved in a dynamic process, constantly transforming the social system of a given region. This dissertation has in its essence, to be a work that is in accordance with the new paradigm of science, discarding simple and ready explanations about development. It seeks to add all the complexity, instability and intersubjectivity that the subject comprehends. Thus, the main objective of this work is to develop and diagnose the municipal town hall administration system for the sustainable development, based on the sustainable development goals (SDG). The methods used are the Viable System Model (VSM) for the municipal town hall management, and the factor analysis to model the Systemic-Cybernetic Indicator of Sustainable Development (SCISD) for the municipalities of the state of São Paulo. Specific objectives are also developed in order to contribute to the main objective. These include: a) to differentiate the various development concepts, b) to identify the system where local development takes place, b) to check how the SDGs can promote systemic development, c) to identify the main variables that could be used to measure sustainable development, and which of them are connected to each of the UN\'s SDGs and, finally, d) to identify the differences between the municipalities of the state of São Paulo, creating clusters of similar municipalities according to the SCISD developed. To do so, this is a systemic work both in its philosophy and structure. It was adopted methods and techniques both quantitative and qualitative to explore to the results of the research questions. In order to obtain sufficient knowledge about the topics addressed and to propose a solid methodological basis to show the expected results, it was decided to make a broad theoretical reference, involving three items: development, systems thinking and cybernetics approaches and sustainable development goals. The results showed that it is possible to apply the VSM in the administrative system of the city halls, being a powerful tool not only to manage the city in an efficient way, but also useful to identify several systemic failures, as they are exposed in the final considerations of this work. Through the factorial analysis, based on the SDGs, it was also possible to develop a model to measure the level of municipal sustainable development: the SCISD for the 645 municipalities of the state of São Paulo. Also, from the SCISD, seven clusters with different characteristics were found, indicating the need for different administrative approaches according to the different at sustainable development characteristics found in each cluster.

O desenvolvimento municipal sustentável é um fenômeno complexo. Para que seja possível entender tal fenômeno, é necessário levar em consideração como se comportam as diversas variáveis de dimensões distintas e a interação de uma grande quantidade de atores envolvidos em um processo dinâmico, transformando constantemente o sistema social de uma determinada região. Esta dissertação tem em sua essência, ser um trabalho que está de acordo com o novo paradigma da ciência, descartando explicações simples e prontas sobre o desenvolvimento. Busca agregar toda a complexidade, instabilidade e intersubjetividade que o assunto compreende. Assim, o principal objetivo deste trabalho é desenvolver e diagnosticar o sistema de administração das prefeituras municipais para o desenvolvimento sustentável, tendo como base os objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável (ODS), utilizando como métodos o Viable System Model (VSM) em prefeituras municipais e a criação de Indicador Sistêmico-Cibernético de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ISCDS) por meio da análise fatorial (AF) para os municípios do estado de São Paulo. Os objetivos específicos também são desenvolvidos de maneira a contribuir ao objetivo principal. Dentre eles estão: diferenciar os diversos conceitos de desenvolvimento, identificar e delimitar o sistema onde acontece o desenvolvimento local, verificar como os ODS podem ser uma forma de promover o desenvolvimento sistêmico, identificar as principais variáveis secundárias que podem compor o desenvolvimento local e que estejam ligadas a cada um dos objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável da ONU, desenvolver um indicador capaz de medir o desenvolvimento sistêmico utilizando os ODS e, por fim, identificar as diferenças entre os municípios do estado de São Paulo criando agrupamentos de municípios semelhantes. Para tanto, este é um trabalho sistêmico tanto em sua filosofia quanto estrutura, adotando métodos e técnicas tanto quantitativas como qualitativas para se chegar aos resultados das perguntas de pesquisa. Para que fosse possível obter conhecimento suficiente acerca dos temas tratados e propor uma base metodológica sólida de modo a mostrar os resultados esperados, optou-se por realizar um amplo referencial teórico, envolvendo três itens: desenvolvimento, abordagens sistêmico-cibernéticas e objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável. Os resultados mostraram que é possível aplicar o VSM no sistema administrativo das prefeituras municipais, sendo uma poderosa ferramenta para administrar o a prefeitura de maneira eficiente e também útil para identificar diversas falhas sistêmicas, conforme são expostas nas considerações finais deste trabalho. Por meio da análise fatorial, tendo como base os ODS, foi possível desenvolver um modelo para se medir o desenvolvimento sustentável sistêmico municipal: o ISCDS para os 645 municípios do estado de São Paulo. A partir da obtenção do ISCDS, foram encontrados sete clusters com características diferentes, indicando a necessidade de tratativas administrativas diferentes que visem o desenvolvimento sustentável para cada agrupamento encontrado. / Sustainable municipal development is a complex phenomenon. To understand this phenomenon, it is necessary to take into account not only the way of huge number variables of different dimensions behave, but also how the large number of actors are involved in a dynamic process, constantly transforming the social system of a given region. This dissertation has in its essence, to be a work that is in accordance with the new paradigm of science, discarding simple and ready explanations about development. It seeks to add all the complexity, instability and intersubjectivity that the subject comprehends. Thus, the main objective of this work is to develop and diagnose the municipal town hall administration system for the sustainable development, based on the sustainable development goals (SDG). The methods used are the Viable System Model (VSM) for the municipal town hall management, and the factor analysis to model the Systemic-Cybernetic Indicator of Sustainable Development (SCISD) for the municipalities of the state of São Paulo. Specific objectives are also developed in order to contribute to the main objective. These include: a) to differentiate the various development concepts, b) to identify the system where local development takes place, b) to check how the SDGs can promote systemic development, c) to identify the main variables that could be used to measure sustainable development, and which of them are connected to each of the UN\'s SDGs and, finally, d) to identify the differences between the municipalities of the state of São Paulo, creating clusters of similar municipalities according to the SCISD developed. To do so, this is a systemic work both in its philosophy and structure. It was adopted methods and techniques both quantitative and qualitative to explore to the results of the research questions. In order to obtain sufficient knowledge about the topics addressed and to propose a solid methodological basis to show the expected results, it was decided to make a broad theoretical reference, involving three items: development, systems thinking and cybernetics approaches and sustainable development goals. The results showed that it is possible to apply the VSM in the administrative system of the city halls, being a powerful tool not only to manage the city in an efficient way, but also useful to identify several systemic failures, as they are exposed in the final considerations of this work. Through the factorial analysis, based on the SDGs, it was also possible to develop a model to measure the level of municipal sustainable development: the SCISD for the 645 municipalities of the state of São Paulo. Also, from the SCISD, seven clusters with different characteristics were found, indicating the need for different administrative approaches according to the different at sustainable development characteristics found in each cluster.

A teoria sobre as capacidades dinâmicas acolhe influências de várias teorias que a antecederam no campo da economia, da teoria das organizações e da estratégia. Em função dessas influências variadas, seu construto central, a capacidade dinâmica, tornou-se complexo e multifacetado. Vários autores especulam acerca da natureza e da evolução das capacidades dinâmicas. A percepção que se tem a partir das definições fornecidas pelos autores seminais é de que a natureza das capacidades dinâmicas é sistêmica e evolutiva. Em particular, é perceptível a afinidade do conceito de capacidades dinâmicas com duas abordagens sistêmicas específicas: o modelo do sistema viável (viable system model, VSM) e a metodologia sistêmica soft (soft systems methodology, SSM). Entretanto, apesar dessa aparente afinidade das capacidades dinâmicas com a visão sistêmica, estudos que relacionem os dois domínios da literatura são muito raros. Praticamente inexistem trabalhos que apliquem o VSM ou a SSM no estudo ou na administração de capacidades dinâmicas. O objetivo desta pesquisa é investigar a natureza e a evolução das capacidades dinâmicas sob uma perspectiva sistêmico-evolutiva. Como descrever a natureza das capacidades dinâmicas segundo uma perspectiva sistêmico-evolutiva? Como operacionalizar uma abordagem de administração evolutiva de capacidades dinâmicas através de metodologias sistêmicas como o VSM e a SSM? Essas são as perguntas que orientam este estudo. Através de revisão narrativa de literatura, a visão de capacidades dinâmicas e as teorias que a influenciaram foram analisadas e relacionadas com a visão sistêmica. Além disso, na falta de artigos que relacionassem os dois domínios da literatura, empreendeu-se uma revisão integrativa de literatura com artigos que tratam sobre a construção, desenvolvimento, evolução, obtenção, manutenção, mobilização e gerenciamento de capacidades dinâmicas. Esses artigos foram submetidos à análise categorial, uma variante da análise de conteúdo, para verificar a ocorrência de temas relacionados ao VSM e à SSM. Como resultado da revisão narrativa, demonstrou-se que a visão de capacidades dinâmicas está intimamente relacionada com a visão sistêmica, inclusive com o VSM e a SSM. Essa relação é uma herança da relação que as teorias que influenciaram a visão de capacidades dinâmicas já possuíam com a visão sistêmica. A revisão integrativa de literatura com análise de conteúdo permitiu concluir que (1) as capacidades dinâmicas têm, de fato, uma natureza evolutiva, (2) a intervenção da administração tem um papel importante na construção e na evolução de capacidades dinâmicas, e (3) essa intervenção pode ocorrer de duas maneiras básicas, que se chamou de evolução por projeto e evolução por aprendizagem, que se relacionou, respectivamente, às abordagens do VSM e da SSM. As descobertas da pesquisa foram sintetizadas em um modelo sistêmico evolutivo de organização que possui múltiplas vistas: um modelo hierárquico de administração de recursos e capacidades, um modelo recursivo de competências, um modelo recursivo de capacidades, um modelo de evolução de capacidades e um modelo de administração evolutiva baseado no VSM e na SSM. A pesquisa oferece uma contribuição teórica, no que diz respeito à compreensão da natureza sistêmica das capacidades dinâmicas. A pesquisa também oferece uma contribuição prática, ao propor a administração evolutiva, operacionalizada através do VSM e da SSM, como uma abordagem para o gerenciamento das capacidades dinâmicas. / The theory of dynamic capabilities gathers influences from several theories that preceded it in the fields of economics, organizational theory and strategy. Due to these varied influences, its core construct, the dynamic capability, ended up to become complex and multifaceted. Several authors speculate about the nature and the evolution of dynamic capabilities. The perception that we have from the definitions provided by the seminal authors is that the nature of dynamic capabilities is systemic and evolutionary. In particular, it is noticeable the affinity of the dynamic capability concept with two specific systems approaches: the viable system model (VSM) and the soft systems methodology (SSM). However, despite this seemingly affinity of dynamic capabilities with systems approach, studies that relate both realms of the literature are very scarce. There are practically no studies that apply the VSM or SSM in the study or the management of dynamic capabilities. The goal of the present research is to investigate the nature and the evolution of dynamic capabilities under a systemic-evolutionary approach. How to conceive the nature of dynamic capabilities according to a systemic-evolutionary perspective? How to operationalize an evolutionary management approach to dynamic capabilities by using systems methodologies such as the VSM and SSM? These are the questions that drive this research. By means of a narrative literature review, the dynamic capabilities view and the theories that influenced it were analyzed and related with systems thinking. In addition, given the lack of articles that relate both realms of the literature, an integrative literature review was undertaken with articles that address the construction, development, evolution, attainment, maintenance, deployment and management of dynamic capabilities. These articles were submitted to categorical analysis, a variation of content analysis, to verify the occurrence of themes related to the VSM and SSM. As a result of the narrative literature review, we showed that the dynamic capabilities view is closely related to the systems thinking, including to the VSM and SSM. This relation in an inheritance of the relation that the theories that influenced the dynamic capabilities view already had with systems thinking. The integrative literature review with content analysis led to the conclusion that (1) the dynamic capabilities do have an evolutionary nature, (2) the intervention of management has an important role in building and evolving dynamic capabilities, and (3) this intervention can take two basic approaches, that we named evolution by design and evolution by learning, which we respectively related to the approaches of the VSM and SSM. The findings of the research were synthesized in a evolutionary system model of the organization that has several multiple views: a hierarchical model for resources management, a recursive model of competences, a recursive model of capabilities, a capabilities evolution model and a model for evolutionary management based on the VSM and SSM. The research provides a theoretical contribution, which regards the understanding of the systemic nature of dynamic capabilities. The research also provides a practical contribution, as it proposes evolutionary management, operationalized by applying the VSM and SSM, as an approach to the management of the dynamic capabilities.

O trabalho apresenta um estudo com a finalidade de verificar a aplicabilidade do Modelo do Sistema Viável (VSM Viable System Model) no projeto de uma arquitetura robusta de um Sistema de Informação voltado à área naval nuclear. A ênfase do estudo está em avaliar uma modelagem alternativa para a especificação da arquitetura do Sistema de Informação, incorporando o conjunto de funcionalidades especificadas pelo VSM, com o objetivo de fortalecer esta arquitetura. A estratégia desta pesquisa baseia-se em uma revisão bibliográfica relacionada ao VSM, aos Sistemas de Informação e a sua arquitetura, e às influências destes elementos na sobrevivência das organizações diante das mudanças constantes no ambiente. É apresentado um estudo de caso onde são mostrados os elementos teóricos do VSM e da arquitetura de SI aplicados na elaboração da arquitetura de um SI. O Sistema escolhido para esta aplicação é o Sistema de informação de incidentes nucleares (SIN) nas instalações onde são feitas pesquisas e desenvolvimento de tecnologia nuclear a ser aplicada na propulsão de um submarino. / The present work presents a study aiming to verify the applicability of the Viable System Model (VSM) in a robust architecture for an Information System targeting nuclear naval area. The emphasis of the study is in assessing an alternative modeling for the Information System (IS) architecture specification, incorporating a set of functionalities defined by the VSM, with the purpose of strengthening this architecture. The strategy of this research is based on a bibliographic revision on VSM, Information System and its architecture, and the influence of those elements in the survival of the organizations in a ever changing environment. It is presented one case study where it is showed the theoretical elements of the VSM and IS architecture applied on the development of a IS architecture. The selected system for this application is the IS for nuclear incidents (SIN) on the installations dedicated to research and development on nuclear technology applied to submarine propulsion system.

A teoria sobre as capacidades dinâmicas acolhe influências de várias teorias que a antecederam no campo da economia, da teoria das organizações e da estratégia. Em função dessas influências variadas, seu construto central, a capacidade dinâmica, tornou-se complexo e multifacetado. Vários autores especulam acerca da natureza e da evolução das capacidades dinâmicas. A percepção que se tem a partir das definições fornecidas pelos autores seminais é de que a natureza das capacidades dinâmicas é sistêmica e evolutiva. Em particular, é perceptível a afinidade do conceito de capacidades dinâmicas com duas abordagens sistêmicas específicas: o modelo do sistema viável (viable system model, VSM) e a metodologia sistêmica soft (soft systems methodology, SSM). Entretanto, apesar dessa aparente afinidade das capacidades dinâmicas com a visão sistêmica, estudos que relacionem os dois domínios da literatura são muito raros. Praticamente inexistem trabalhos que apliquem o VSM ou a SSM no estudo ou na administração de capacidades dinâmicas. O objetivo desta pesquisa é investigar a natureza e a evolução das capacidades dinâmicas sob uma perspectiva sistêmico-evolutiva. Como descrever a natureza das capacidades dinâmicas segundo uma perspectiva sistêmico-evolutiva? Como operacionalizar uma abordagem de administração evolutiva de capacidades dinâmicas através de metodologias sistêmicas como o VSM e a SSM? Essas são as perguntas que orientam este estudo. Através de revisão narrativa de literatura, a visão de capacidades dinâmicas e as teorias que a influenciaram foram analisadas e relacionadas com a visão sistêmica. Além disso, na falta de artigos que relacionassem os dois domínios da literatura, empreendeu-se uma revisão integrativa de literatura com artigos que tratam sobre a construção, desenvolvimento, evolução, obtenção, manutenção, mobilização e gerenciamento de capacidades dinâmicas. Esses artigos foram submetidos à análise categorial, uma variante da análise de conteúdo, para verificar a ocorrência de temas relacionados ao VSM e à SSM. Como resultado da revisão narrativa, demonstrou-se que a visão de capacidades dinâmicas está intimamente relacionada com a visão sistêmica, inclusive com o VSM e a SSM. Essa relação é uma herança da relação que as teorias que influenciaram a visão de capacidades dinâmicas já possuíam com a visão sistêmica. A revisão integrativa de literatura com análise de conteúdo permitiu concluir que (1) as capacidades dinâmicas têm, de fato, uma natureza evolutiva, (2) a intervenção da administração tem um papel importante na construção e na evolução de capacidades dinâmicas, e (3) essa intervenção pode ocorrer de duas maneiras básicas, que se chamou de evolução por projeto e evolução por aprendizagem, que se relacionou, respectivamente, às abordagens do VSM e da SSM. As descobertas da pesquisa foram sintetizadas em um modelo sistêmico evolutivo de organização que possui múltiplas vistas: um modelo hierárquico de administração de recursos e capacidades, um modelo recursivo de competências, um modelo recursivo de capacidades, um modelo de evolução de capacidades e um modelo de administração evolutiva baseado no VSM e na SSM. A pesquisa oferece uma contribuição teórica, no que diz respeito à compreensão da natureza sistêmica das capacidades dinâmicas. A pesquisa também oferece uma contribuição prática, ao propor a administração evolutiva, operacionalizada através do VSM e da SSM, como uma abordagem para o gerenciamento das capacidades dinâmicas. / The theory of dynamic capabilities gathers influences from several theories that preceded it in the fields of economics, organizational theory and strategy. Due to these varied influences, its core construct, the dynamic capability, ended up to become complex and multifaceted. Several authors speculate about the nature and the evolution of dynamic capabilities. The perception that we have from the definitions provided by the seminal authors is that the nature of dynamic capabilities is systemic and evolutionary. In particular, it is noticeable the affinity of the dynamic capability concept with two specific systems approaches: the viable system model (VSM) and the soft systems methodology (SSM). However, despite this seemingly affinity of dynamic capabilities with systems approach, studies that relate both realms of the literature are very scarce. There are practically no studies that apply the VSM or SSM in the study or the management of dynamic capabilities. The goal of the present research is to investigate the nature and the evolution of dynamic capabilities under a systemic-evolutionary approach. How to conceive the nature of dynamic capabilities according to a systemic-evolutionary perspective? How to operationalize an evolutionary management approach to dynamic capabilities by using systems methodologies such as the VSM and SSM? These are the questions that drive this research. By means of a narrative literature review, the dynamic capabilities view and the theories that influenced it were analyzed and related with systems thinking. In addition, given the lack of articles that relate both realms of the literature, an integrative literature review was undertaken with articles that address the construction, development, evolution, attainment, maintenance, deployment and management of dynamic capabilities. These articles were submitted to categorical analysis, a variation of content analysis, to verify the occurrence of themes related to the VSM and SSM. As a result of the narrative literature review, we showed that the dynamic capabilities view is closely related to the systems thinking, including to the VSM and SSM. This relation in an inheritance of the relation that the theories that influenced the dynamic capabilities view already had with systems thinking. The integrative literature review with content analysis led to the conclusion that (1) the dynamic capabilities do have an evolutionary nature, (2) the intervention of management has an important role in building and evolving dynamic capabilities, and (3) this intervention can take two basic approaches, that we named evolution by design and evolution by learning, which we respectively related to the approaches of the VSM and SSM. The findings of the research were synthesized in a evolutionary system model of the organization that has several multiple views: a hierarchical model for resources management, a recursive model of competences, a recursive model of capabilities, a capabilities evolution model and a model for evolutionary management based on the VSM and SSM. The research provides a theoretical contribution, which regards the understanding of the systemic nature of dynamic capabilities. The research also provides a practical contribution, as it proposes evolutionary management, operationalized by applying the VSM and SSM, as an approach to the management of the dynamic capabilities.

The Intelligent Control Paradigm for software architecture is the result of this work. The Viable Software Approach is developed as an instance of the paradigm. The approach uses the Viable System Model as the basis for software system architecture. The result is a model-based architecture and approach for developing software systems by piecemeal adaptation with the goal that they become adaptive systems at runtime. Software built in this manner is called Viable Software. Viable Software represents a unifying class of self-controlling software that is an “intelligent” control system. Cybernetics, Control Theory, and Complexity Theory are the background for this work, and aspects relevant to this work are presented. These results are related to software architecture and software engineering. Rationale for the selection of the Viable System Model as a basis for software systems is given. The Viable System Model is described. The model is restated as an Alexanderian “pattern language” to make it more accessible to software engineering. A Viable Software Approach is proposed and expressed in the form of a Product Line Architecture that arranges the Viable System Model, the Viable Software Architecture, a Viable Component Framework, and a Component Transfer Protocol into a system for generative programming. An important result is the formalisation of the pattern of the Viable System into the interface specifications of the Viable Component. Three case studies illustrate the approach. The first is an analysis and extension of the Groove collaboration system. This study shows how the approach is used to map an existing system into the Viable Software Architecture and add fuzzy-adaptive user interface controllers. The second study presents the design and detailed software construction of an adaptive camera controller as part of a smart environment. The final study shows how a Business-to-Business e-Commerce system can be evolved and an expert system-based controller developed to implement business contracts.

<p>Intranets appeared in the mid-1990s and were perceived as the answer to the need for the integration of existing Information Systems into organisations. Despite the fact that there has been extensive research regarding implementation, development processes, policies standardisation vs. creativity and so forth, the potentiality of Intranets has not been fully exploited. Intranets offer many advantages in the form of working networks that support and enable empowered employees to participate in the development of the organisation, to enable the measurement of essential functions and to monitor undesired conditions and find suitable functions that support daily work. The research approach in this thesis has alternated between analysis empirical studies, and design. Current literature, research findings in the form of articles, etc., are analysed, an empirical study of five organisations is conducted and finally a design of possible functions is accomplished. In the analysis of the state-of-the-art, current research can be grouped into four topics partly overlapping each other; questions concerning informatics, organisation theory, knowledge management, and design. Urgent issues for further research are identified as mainly belonging to the topics informatics and organisation theory; management and strategy, empowerment, further development processes, use, and roles. Findings from a study of five Swedish organisations show a need for identifying the philosophy of technology in the organisations in order to make an organisation’s view of technology common throughout the organisation. Furthermore, functions supporting daily work are lacking to a high degree. Further lacks and demands are identified, as well as potential functions and new possibilities. In the next section, the Philosophy of Technology is related to an Intranet. The discussion is based on a model which consists of the concepts Conception, Use, Technology, and Policy. Making the Philosophy of Technology common in organisations is connected to the empowerment of employees and is a guarantor, along with the influence of the VSM on the design, for the impact on and participation in the processes of an organisation. The next part deals with possible advantages of combining the cybernetic model, the Viable System Model, by Stafford Beer, and an Intranet. It is found that the VSM can support the design of Intranets according to essential functions such as Early Warning Systems connected to production units and levels that are to be made aware of undesired conditions in the organisation. Furthermore, functions for amplifying and attenuating information – both between parts of the organisation and between the organisation and the environment – are to be designed. Further examples of functions supporting the organisation, in order to make it viable, are given. The main contribution of the thesis is the identification of core functions in an Intranet as establishing functions for supervision (Early Warning Systems), attenuating and amplifying information between the organisation and the environment and between subparts in the organisation. Furthermore, the interface is to be designed so the underlying technology is “visible:” Where are the different parts of the Intranet located physically? Who delivers information to the different parts? Who uses the functions? Who is responsible? The transparency of the interface makes the philosophy of technology visible throughout the organisation; the concepts are the same, the actual use is the same as the intended use, and policy is active and well known and finally, the possibilities and the limitations with/inherent to an Intranet are known among the users.</p><p>Finally, examples of further research are given – both as regards the implementation of Intranets based on the VSM design and as regards making the interface transparent.</p>

Intranets appeared in the mid-1990s and were perceived as the answer to the need for the integration of existing Information Systems into organisations. Despite the fact that there has been extensive research regarding implementation, development processes, policies standardisation vs. creativity and so forth, the potentiality of Intranets has not been fully exploited. Intranets offer many advantages in the form of working networks that support and enable empowered employees to participate in the development of the organisation, to enable the measurement of essential functions and to monitor undesired conditions and find suitable functions that support daily work. The research approach in this thesis has alternated between analysis empirical studies, and design. Current literature, research findings in the form of articles, etc., are analysed, an empirical study of five organisations is conducted and finally a design of possible functions is accomplished. In the analysis of the state-of-the-art, current research can be grouped into four topics partly overlapping each other; questions concerning informatics, organisation theory, knowledge management, and design. Urgent issues for further research are identified as mainly belonging to the topics informatics and organisation theory; management and strategy, empowerment, further development processes, use, and roles. Findings from a study of five Swedish organisations show a need for identifying the philosophy of technology in the organisations in order to make an organisation’s view of technology common throughout the organisation. Furthermore, functions supporting daily work are lacking to a high degree. Further lacks and demands are identified, as well as potential functions and new possibilities. In the next section, the Philosophy of Technology is related to an Intranet. The discussion is based on a model which consists of the concepts Conception, Use, Technology, and Policy. Making the Philosophy of Technology common in organisations is connected to the empowerment of employees and is a guarantor, along with the influence of the VSM on the design, for the impact on and participation in the processes of an organisation. The next part deals with possible advantages of combining the cybernetic model, the Viable System Model, by Stafford Beer, and an Intranet. It is found that the VSM can support the design of Intranets according to essential functions such as Early Warning Systems connected to production units and levels that are to be made aware of undesired conditions in the organisation. Furthermore, functions for amplifying and attenuating information – both between parts of the organisation and between the organisation and the environment – are to be designed. Further examples of functions supporting the organisation, in order to make it viable, are given. The main contribution of the thesis is the identification of core functions in an Intranet as establishing functions for supervision (Early Warning Systems), attenuating and amplifying information between the organisation and the environment and between subparts in the organisation. Furthermore, the interface is to be designed so the underlying technology is “visible:” Where are the different parts of the Intranet located physically? Who delivers information to the different parts? Who uses the functions? Who is responsible? The transparency of the interface makes the philosophy of technology visible throughout the organisation; the concepts are the same, the actual use is the same as the intended use, and policy is active and well known and finally, the possibilities and the limitations with/inherent to an Intranet are known among the users. Finally, examples of further research are given – both as regards the implementation of Intranets based on the VSM design and as regards making the interface transparent.