Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Information Science and Knowledge Management, Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran , Iran
2 Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran , Iran
Abstract
Purpose: The Tehran International Book Fair(TIBF), as one of Iran’s major cultural events, has not yet been examined through a systemic lens, nor has its structural diagnosis received adequate attention. This paper aims to apply the Viable System Model (VSM) to diagnose cultural systems, using the Book Fair as a case study.
Methodology: The study employed Pérez Ríos’s approach to VSM. The research population consisted of former and current directors of the TIBF, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews, up to theoretical saturation.
Findings: In the first stage, the identity of the Book Fair and its economic, social, political, geographical, educational, legal, and technical environments were identified. In the second stage, the focal system was defined and its complexity unraveled, leading to the determination of system levels. The third stage involved analyzing seven subsystems: operational, coordination, executive, cohesion, auditing, intelligence, and policy-making. In the fourth stage, functional deficiencies of each subsystem and the overall system were diagnosed. Finally, in the fifth stage, the communication channels of the Book Fair were assessed.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that achieving viability in the TIBF requires addressing functional deficiencies, communication breakdowns, and structural gaps. Redesigning the system in alignment with VSM principles will enable the Fair to adapt to environmental changes and sustain itself as an autonomous entity over time.
Value: This article discusses the VSM for Diagnosing the TIBF as a cultural organization, and in terms of its subject matter and methodology, it can inspire other research.
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