What My Band Taught Me About the Viable System Model (VSM)

What My Band Taught Me About the Viable System Model (VSM)

At Kholo, we help organisations navigate complexity. And sometimes the best way to understand complex systems is through something familiar. For me, that’s music.

When I began learning the Viable System Model (VSM) — a framework that views organisations as living systems — I tested it through a lens I know well: my band.

What makes a band viable? It’s not just the music. It’s how we organise, evolve, and stay true to our identity. Here’s how the five systems of VSM show up on stage (and off).

Understanding the Viable System Model

The Viable System Model describes the five functions any organisation needs to remain adaptive and resilient. Its beauty lies in its fractal nature: each individual, team, and organisation can be mapped through the same lens.

Lessons From Music: How VSM Shows Up in a Band

• System 1 – Operations (The Music).
  This is the show itself — the soundcheck, the live energy, the performance. If this doesn’t work, nothing else matters. In organisations, this is your core service.
• System 2 – Coordination.
  Getting everyone to the gig. Making sure the gear is ready. Managing the mixer. When coordination breaks down, the music still plays — but not at its best.
• System 3 – Governance.
  Oversight and logistics: bookings, fees, transport. While I often take the lead, governance is shared. This is how the band holds itself together.
• System 4 – Intelligence.
  Scanning the world: which clubs to play, which festivals to aim for, what music inspires us. It’s how we evolve and avoid stagnation.
• System 5 – Identity.
  Why do we exist as a band? What makes us different? Our tone, purpose, and values. Identity guides every other system.

Applying the Viable System Model to Organisations

Just as in a band, organisations thrive when all five systems are strong:

• Delivering core services with excellence (System 1)
• Coordinating smoothly across teams (System 2)
• Governing with shared visibility and leadership (System 3)
• Adapting to external change and opportunities (System 4)
• Leading with clarity of identity and purpose (System 5)

Kholo’s Approach: Systems Thinking in Action

In our work with organisations in Lisbon, London, and globally, we use the Viable System Model to bring clarity and confidence to leadership teams. By embedding systems thinking into organisational design, we help teams focus on what makes them truly viable: resilience, adaptability, and identity.

Conclusion: What Makes Your Organisation Viable?

Every band, every team, every organisation is a system within a system. The question is:

• Are you delivering your core service with excellence?
• Is coordination running smoothly?
• Is coordination running smoothly?
• Do you have visibility and shared leadership?
• Are you learning and adapting?

‍At Kholo, we help leaders answer these questions — and design organisations that can thrive in complexity. Book a call with Kholo.

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