{
  "schema_version": "1.0",
  "canonical_url": "https://transduction.systems/entries/practice_lab_viable_system_model/",
  "release": "0.35",
  "citation": "Taylor, B. P. (2026). Practice: Viable System Model: diagnose functions and channels. The Necessary Tangle, release 0.35. https://transduction.systems/entries/practice_lab_viable_system_model/",
  "licence": "CC BY-SA 4.0 for original atlas text and data; linked works retain their own terms",
  "entry": {
    "id": "practice_lab_viable_system_model",
    "label": "Practice: Viable System Model: diagnose functions and channels",
    "entity_type": "publication",
    "description": "Choose a recursion, identify operational units, and test management functions without turning the VSM into an organisation chart. A basic organisational diagnosis. Functions can be distributed or combined in people and groups. The exercise does not establish that every multi-agency network has a single legitimate metasystem.",
    "aliases": [],
    "boundary_ring": "0",
    "inclusion_reason": "authorised_systems_methods_practice_pack",
    "status": "candidate",
    "source_ids": [
      "src_practice_lab_viable_system_model",
      "src_practice_external_vsm_mapping",
      "src_practice_external_vsm_guide",
      "src_practice_external_scio_courses"
    ],
    "set_tags": [
      "systems",
      "practice",
      "learning",
      "apprenticeship"
    ],
    "espoused_labels": [],
    "observed_clusters": [],
    "canonical_definition": "Choose a recursion, identify operational units, and test management functions without turning the VSM into an organisation chart. A basic organisational diagnosis. Functions can be distributed or combined in people and groups. The exercise does not establish that every multi-agency network has a single legitimate metasystem.",
    "valid_from": "",
    "valid_to": "",
    "external_ids": "{\"practice_url\": \"https://transduction.systems/systems-thinking/practice/viable-system-model/\"}",
    "geographies": [],
    "licence": "",
    "review_status": "original_practice_material_specialist_review_not_recorded",
    "reviewed_by": "",
    "reviewed_at": "",
    "x": 0.38,
    "y": 0.34,
    "canonical_id": "practice_lab_viable_system_model",
    "public_visibility": "public",
    "publication_level": "profile",
    "public_stub_text": "",
    "public_source_count": 4,
    "no_public_link_count": 0
  },
  "profile": {
    "node_id": "practice_lab_viable_system_model",
    "summary": "Choose a recursion, identify operational units, and test management functions without turning the VSM into an organisation chart. A basic organisational diagnosis. Functions can be distributed or combined in people and groups. The exercise does not establish that every multi-agency network has a single legitimate metasystem.",
    "canonical_definition": "Choose a recursion, identify operational units, and test management functions without turning the VSM into an organisation chart. A basic organisational diagnosis. Functions can be distributed or combined in people and groups. The exercise does not establish that every multi-agency network has a single legitimate metasystem.",
    "why_it_matters": "A concrete rehearsal with a fictional case, explicit outputs and a way to inspect the result.",
    "key_distinctions": [
      "Mechanical correctness is distinct from judgement in an open situation.",
      "Training-case application is distinct from competent organisational practice."
    ],
    "historical_lineage": [],
    "logical_antecedents": [],
    "dependent_subsequents": [],
    "practice_connections": [
      "State the focal system and one level above and below it.",
      "Map the case evidence to Systems 1-5 and 3*.",
      "Diagnose two channel failures.",
      "Design a correction that preserves local autonomy.",
      "Test the diagnosis with operational evidence."
    ],
    "common_misreadings": [
      "A worked comparison is not the only acceptable answer to an open question."
    ],
    "open_checks": [
      "A basic organisational diagnosis. Functions can be distributed or combined in people and groups. The exercise does not establish that every multi-agency network has a single legitimate metasystem.",
      "Compare an independent attempt before revealing the worked answer."
    ],
    "source_ids": [
      "src_practice_lab_viable_system_model",
      "src_practice_external_vsm_mapping",
      "src_practice_external_vsm_guide",
      "src_practice_external_scio_courses"
    ],
    "context_and_lineage": "Original educational resource, 7 September 2026.",
    "editorial_note": "Prepared with AI assistance. Publication authorised by Benjamin P Taylor. No independent specialist review or source-provider endorsement is claimed.",
    "last_researched": "2026-09-07",
    "title": "Practice: Viable System Model: diagnose functions and channels",
    "profile_status": "original_practice_resource",
    "review_status": "specialist_review_not_recorded"
  },
  "connections": [
    {
      "id": "practice_edge_dd34afce8d768e06e2",
      "source": "practice_systems_methods_pack",
      "target": "practice_lab_viable_system_model",
      "relation_type": "includes_practice_resource",
      "relation_family": "practice",
      "directed": "true",
      "dependency_kind": "",
      "confidence": "",
      "claim_status": "candidate",
      "source_ids": [
        "src_systems_methods_practice_pack"
      ],
      "evidence_ids": [],
      "source_locator": "Named exercise and its scope statement",
      "valid_from": "",
      "valid_to": "",
      "scope_conditions": "Resource inventory only; completing a page is not accreditation.",
      "assertion_mode": "asserted",
      "inference_method": "",
      "claim_id": "",
      "reviewed_by": "",
      "reviewed_at": "",
      "notes": "",
      "plain_phrase": "includes practice resource",
      "public_review_label": "Editorial practice connection, not accreditation or intellectual influence"
    },
    {
      "id": "practice_edge_70000d12d1e5753caa",
      "source": "practice_lab_viable_system_model",
      "target": "method_or_methodology_viable_system_model_vsm",
      "relation_type": "provides_practice_for",
      "relation_family": "practice",
      "directed": "true",
      "dependency_kind": "",
      "confidence": "",
      "claim_status": "candidate",
      "source_ids": [
        "src_practice_lab_viable_system_model"
      ],
      "evidence_ids": [],
      "source_locator": "Named exercise and its scope statement",
      "valid_from": "",
      "valid_to": "",
      "scope_conditions": "A basic organisational diagnosis. Functions can be distributed or combined in people and groups. The exercise does not establish that every multi-agency network has a single legitimate metasystem.",
      "assertion_mode": "asserted",
      "inference_method": "",
      "claim_id": "",
      "reviewed_by": "",
      "reviewed_at": "",
      "notes": "",
      "plain_phrase": "provides a practice route for",
      "public_review_label": "Editorial practice connection, not accreditation or intellectual influence"
    },
    {
      "id": "practice_edge_300b04be04474e269b",
      "source": "practice_lab_viable_system_model",
      "target": "concept_recursion",
      "relation_type": "provides_practice_for",
      "relation_family": "practice",
      "directed": "true",
      "dependency_kind": "",
      "confidence": "",
      "claim_status": "candidate",
      "source_ids": [
        "src_practice_lab_viable_system_model"
      ],
      "evidence_ids": [],
      "source_locator": "Named exercise and its scope statement",
      "valid_from": "",
      "valid_to": "",
      "scope_conditions": "A basic organisational diagnosis. Functions can be distributed or combined in people and groups. The exercise does not establish that every multi-agency network has a single legitimate metasystem.",
      "assertion_mode": "asserted",
      "inference_method": "",
      "claim_id": "",
      "reviewed_by": "",
      "reviewed_at": "",
      "notes": "",
      "plain_phrase": "provides a practice route for",
      "public_review_label": "Editorial practice connection, not accreditation or intellectual influence"
    }
  ],
  "claims": [],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "src_practice_lab_viable_system_model",
      "title": "Viable System Model: diagnose functions and channels",
      "source_type": "practice_resource",
      "quality_tier": "A",
      "access": "public",
      "url": "https://transduction.systems/systems-thinking/practice/viable-system-model/",
      "date": "2026-09-07",
      "notes": "Original fictional exercise. A basic organisational diagnosis. Functions can be distributed or combined in people and groups. The exercise does not establish that every multi-agency network has a single legitimate metasystem.",
      "creators": [
        "The Necessary Tangle editorial practice pack"
      ],
      "doi": "",
      "isbn": "",
      "publisher": "The Necessary Tangle",
      "licence": "Original practice text CC BY-SA 4.0; external material retains source terms",
      "archived_url": "",
      "content_hash": "",
      "review_status": "original_material_and_source_boundary_recorded",
      "last_checked": "2026-09-07",
      "public_link_status": "public_link"
    },
    {
      "id": "src_practice_external_vsm_mapping",
      "title": "Metaphorum: VSM mapping and editable diagrams",
      "source_type": "public_learning_resource",
      "quality_tier": "A",
      "access": "public",
      "url": "https://metaphorum.org/resources/vsm-mapping",
      "date": "2026-09-07",
      "notes": "Diagram links and Jon Walker's editing instructions inspected. Templates are not an answer validator. Use: Use the editable diagrams after identifying your focal system, operational units and channels. A completed template is not evidence that the diagnosis is sound.",
      "creators": [],
      "doi": "",
      "isbn": "",
      "publisher": "metaphorum.org",
      "licence": "External source terms; linked, not reproduced",
      "archived_url": "",
      "content_hash": "",
      "review_status": "specific_access_and_content_limit_recorded",
      "last_checked": "2026-09-07",
      "public_link_status": "public_link"
    },
    {
      "id": "src_practice_external_vsm_guide",
      "title": "Jon Walker: Viable Systems Model guide",
      "source_type": "public_learning_resource",
      "quality_tier": "A",
      "access": "public",
      "url": "https://www.esrad.org.uk/resources/vsmg_3/screen.php?page=home",
      "date": "2026-09-07",
      "notes": "Bibliographic route identified; direct access was not confirmed in this research environment. Use: A useful further route when reachable. This pack provides its own case and answer so access failure does not stop practice.",
      "creators": [],
      "doi": "",
      "isbn": "",
      "publisher": "www.esrad.org.uk",
      "licence": "External source terms; linked, not reproduced",
      "archived_url": "",
      "content_hash": "",
      "review_status": "specific_access_and_content_limit_recorded",
      "last_checked": "2026-09-07",
      "public_link_status": "public_link"
    },
    {
      "id": "src_practice_external_scio_courses",
      "title": "SCiO systems practice courses",
      "source_type": "public_learning_resource",
      "quality_tier": "A",
      "access": "public",
      "url": "https://www.systemspractice.org/courses/systems-practice",
      "date": "2026-09-07",
      "notes": "Public listings inspected for VSM, SSM, CSH, SD, Patterns of Strategy, Mosaic and systems laws. Paid exercises and marking were not accessed. Use: Choose the named introduction or core module matching your method. Check current price, access arrangements and feedback provision before paying.",
      "creators": [],
      "doi": "",
      "isbn": "",
      "publisher": "www.systemspractice.org",
      "licence": "External source terms; linked, not reproduced",
      "archived_url": "",
      "content_hash": "",
      "review_status": "specific_access_and_content_limit_recorded",
      "last_checked": "2026-09-07",
      "public_link_status": "public_link"
    },
    {
      "id": "src_systems_methods_practice_pack",
      "title": "Systemic systems methods practice for systems practice (alpha)",
      "source_type": "practice_resource",
      "quality_tier": "A",
      "access": "public",
      "url": "https://transduction.systems/systems-thinking/practice/",
      "date": "2026-09-07",
      "notes": "Alpha version. The original teaching material has not had independent specialist pedagogical review. These exercises support technical learning; they do not establish professional competence or accreditation.",
      "creators": [
        "Benjamin P Taylor"
      ],
      "doi": "",
      "isbn": "",
      "publisher": "The Necessary Tangle",
      "licence": "Original practice text CC BY-SA 4.0; external material retains source terms",
      "archived_url": "",
      "content_hash": "",
      "review_status": "original_material_and_source_boundary_recorded",
      "last_checked": "2026-09-07",
      "public_link_status": "public_link"
    }
  ],
  "evidence_locators": [],
  "reuse_note": "Preserve source attribution, scope, and review status. Source documents and evidence excerpts are excluded."
}