Purpose – Aim of this paper is to elaborate considerations about the possible existing relations among the theoretical constructs on which the Law of Requisite Variety (Ashby, 1956) and the Information Theory (Shannon & Weaver, 1949) are based and the recent studies on the dynamic of viable systems as a practical assumption for the decision-making processes in business administration (Barile 2009, Golinelli 2010), in complex contexts. In Mathematical Theory of communication are identified three levels related to the comprehension of a message: technical -regarding the accuracy of the message-, semantic -regarding its comprehension-, effectiveness -connected to its adoption-. The authors specify that their work refers to the first level (the way a correct codification and decoding of the massage can be obtained); they clarify that the accuracy of the codification is a binding factor for what concerns the subsequent levels. The notion of “informative variety”, suggested by the VSA (Viable System Approach), comprises all three levels and contributes, with the notion of consonance, to define the condition in which the received meaning can effectively affect the behaviour of the receiving person.
Ashby’s notion of requisite variety must be revisited, as it has to include and consider the notions of structures and categoric values suggested by VSA, as well as the notion of consonance.
Methodology/approach – The comparison between the assumption of the Information theory and the background of VSA permits to better define the semantic value of notions like entropy, emergence, complexity and to revise the basis of the Information theory and of the requisite variety, in light of the new perspective principles from VSA.
Findings –The subjective perspective and the negation of the incontrovertible assumptions about the relation between technical and effectiveness level of codification, invigorates itself with remarkable evidence. The simple consideration about the non - indipendence among the levels, and the observation that they constitute a systemic unicum, allows a wider theoretical elaboration.
Research implications – Within management and decision-making theories in complex contexts and with particular reference to viable systems, our purpose is providing decision makers with a specific approach.
Practical implications – This work gives a useful persperctive to managers who operate in current contexts, information and knowledge contexts, and who deal with viable systems.
Originality/value – Considering the informative variety owned by the subject to analyze and interpret complex contexts, permits to cross the bounds of the previous approaches, for a subjective perspective that takes into account everybody’s own informative potential, also thanks to the categoric values
