Dynamic capabilities and T-shaped knowledge. A Viable Systems Approach

This contribution proposes an interpretation of the T-shaped professional notion based on the adoption of the Viable Systems Approach (VSA) perspective. Capturing a relevant change in perspective, with the aim of building and reinforcing the methodological foundations of the economic and business discipline, VSA represents a more general way to view organizations rooted in systems thinking and built upon an updated version of the Beer’s Viable System Model. By leveraging, in particular, on the information variety model, which offers a representation of the viable system knowledge identity, and on the notions of dynamic capabilities and competences, we develop a new interpretation of “T-Shaped knowledge” as the main requirement for decision makers in the knowledge society.