Intelligence systems methodology: a systemic approach to the organizational intelligence function

Abstract

Organizational intelligence can be seen as a function of the viable structure of an organization. With the integration of the Viable System Model and Soft Systems Methodology (systemic approaches of organizational management) focused on the role of the intelligence function, it is possible to elaborate a model of action with a structured methodology to prospect, select, treat and distribute information to the entire organization that improves the efficacy and efficiency of all processes. This combination of methodologies is called Intelligence Systems Methodology (ISM) whose assumptions and dynamics are delimited in this paper. The ISM is composed of two simultaneous activities: the Active Environmental Mapping and the Stimulated Action Cycle. The elaboration of the formal ISM description opens opportunities for applications of the methodology on real situations, offering a new path for this specific issue of systems thinking: the intelligence systems.

Keywords:

• systems thinking
• knowledge and information
• intelligence systems methodology
• organizational intelligence
• business intelligence
• knowledge acquisition

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christian Ganzert

About the authors

Christian Ganzert is a Senior Consultant of ELO Group and an M.B.A. Program Professor at Anhanguera Educational Center. He is a Member of the Regional Economics and Applications Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the same place he joined as Visiting Scholar in 2011. He is also the Coordinator of the Systemic Development Studies Group at the University of São Paulo. He has a Ph.D. and a M.Sc. in Business and Administration and a B.A. in Information Sciences (University of São Paulo). His current research topics are related to informational capitalism, systems thinking, multidimensional social networks, equity economics and productive arrangements.

Dante P. Martinelli is a Titular Professor at the University of São Paulo. He is the Major Coordinator of the Systems Studies Group at the University of São Paulo and the General Coordinator of the Graduate Courses of the Faculty of Economics, Accounting and Business Management at the University of São Paulo. He has a Ph.D. and a M.Sc. in Management, a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Business and Administration (University of São Paulo). He was the former Coordinator of Science and Technology Development of the São Paulo State, and the General Administrative Coordinator of the University of São Paulo. He is also the author of nine books on economics/management and more than 180 papers. His recent researches are concerned with negotiation theory, systems thinking and local development.

Ivete Delai is a Senior Consultant at INDG. She is a former Ph.D. student at the University of São Paulo. Her current research topics are related to sustainability and corporate governance.