Scrum und das Viable System Model

The author examines how the Viable System Model (VSM) can be used to analyse and further develop Scrum in complex organisations. It starts from the observation that Scrum implementations repeatedly face problems of stability and effectiveness that cannot be explained by poor application alone. For this purpose, Scrum is examined from a systems-theoretical perspective and compared with the requirements of organizational viability. The results show that Scrum in its basic form does not describe a fully viable system in the sense of the VSM but can be specifically analysed and complemented. Central problems often arise less within the team itself than in its organisational embedding.