Jonathan Huxley
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An Exploratory Analysis and Synthesis of the Viability of Groups with Salient Social Identities Using Stafford Beer’s VSM Model Jonathan Huxley A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Portsmouth University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2015 ABSTRACT Social groups are a fundamental part of our lives. From early beginnings humans lived in family groups and formed 'tribes' that not only provided protection from the many dangers they faced but by combining their efforts humans learnt that a group could be more than the 'sum of its parts'. Collective action has, and still, provides the basis for much of human activity, while shared knowledge contributes equally to the advancement of humankind. Study into groups has revealed that humans instinctively know when cooperation is the best strategy and that not only is collective action often more efficient and effective than that of independent effort but that groups are good problem solving mechanisms, often making better decisions than individuals through the use of 'collective mindfulness' and a group 'trans-active’ memory. People do not just create a group memory, there is evidence they also ‘become’ the group. As social integration rises, people feel, think, and act more like group members. They automatically associate themselves with the groups that they identify with. Tajfel and Turner’s theory of Social Identity suggests that people not only join groups but take on the ‘group identity’ as their own self-image in a process of ‘depersonalization’. To achieve effective collective action requires more than just 'being' and 'feeling' part of a group. Effective cooperation requires cohesion between group members, good communication and a coherent purpose or goal. Social Identity Theory does not provide evidence of how these mechanisms work other than to identify the formation of group norms. For that we have to turn to cybernetics, the study of 'purposeful action' and Stafford Beer's Viable Systems Model in particular. The Viable Systems Model provides an epistemology for examining the viability of systems. Viability is the ability of systems to achieve cohesion and coherence through autonomy, recursivity and ultimately closure with their environment. This study brings together these two powerful theories to create a more complete picture of purposeful collective action and group membership. By building a Viable Systems Model of salient social groups the research provides a mechanism to understand how individual human social behaviours form and maintain purposeful social groups capable of self- awareness, self-maintenance and the ability to sustain their identity, autonomous from perturbations in the environment. Not every social group is able to maintain viability. Many groups form and expire as the circumstances dictate. Only a few are able to achieve organisational closure from their environment and sustain their identity, This research seeks to identify what is meant by social viability and what factors make some groups achieve it while others do not. It investigates the formation of social groups under different environmental conditions in order to 'tease-out' the invariances that contribute to viability and it tests the validity of the Viable Systems Model of Social Identity Theory developed for the study. In order to answer the research question the study had to address the difficult issue of conducting research on complex social systems and to utilises a process of deduction, induction and abductive reasoning through both analysis and synthesis to achieve its findings. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My most grateful thanks must go to my supervisory team, past and present, from Portsmouth University Business School, namely; James Rowe, Dr Robin Asby, Dr Andreas Hoecht, Professor Ashraf Labib and David Smith, for their support, guidance and encouragement. Special thanks must go to my principal supervisor, James Rowe, firstly for introducing me to Stafford Beer's Viable Systems Model but also for his unequivocal support, his endless knowledge, patience and his guidance throughout. I must thank him for finding my second supervisor Dr Robin Asby whose knowledge of the Viable Systems Model and of Stafford Beer himself has proved invaluable. Although not part of my supervisory team I would like to thank Professor Haslam and his assistant Dr Peters of Exeter University who were kind enough to provide assistance with aspects of Social Identity Theory. I must also thank all the support staff at the Portsmouth University Business School for their tuition, assistance and help with the processes involved, and my fellow students, friends and colleagues for their companionship, patience and understanding. The assistance of the members of SCiO has been invaluable in allowing me to share my ideas. Their positive and constructive comments, support, and wealth of knowledge of cybernetics provided valued help. I am very grateful to the members of all the groups who interrupted busy schedules to complete the survey and conduct the interviews. Their efforts gave insight to the study and allowed my ideas to see fruition. Lastly, without the support of my wife Shona, I could never have achieved this work. Her patience, kindness and encouragement have enabled me to keep faith through to the finish. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .............................................................................................................................. i Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. ii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ iii List of Figures ...................................................................................................................... ix List of Tables ....................................................................................................................... xii List of Appendices ............................................................................................................... xiv Declaration .......................................................................................................................... xv Research Ethics Review Checklist ..................................................................................... xvi CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Aim of the Chapter .............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background ......................................................................................................... 1 1.3 The Study of Social Groups ................................................................................ 2 1.4 Social Identity Theory .......................................................................................... 3 1.5 The Viable Systems Model ................................................................................. 5 1.6 The Suitability of the Viable Systems Model for Social Research ...................... 5 1.7 Research Approach and Design Strategy ........................................................... 6 1.8 Research Aim ...................................................................................................... 8 1.9 Research Question ............................................................................................. 9 1.10 Research Objectives ........................................................................................... 9 1.11 Significance of the Research .............................................................................. 9 1.12 Study Direction - A History of the Research ....................................................... 10 1.13 Guide to the Thesis ............................................................................................. 12 1.13.1 Chapter 1 - Introduction ............................................................................................ 12 1.13.2 Chapter 2 – Literature Review .................................................................................. 12 1.13.3 Chapter 3 – Research Paradigm and Approach ....................................................... 12 1.13.4 Chapter 4 – Research Model .................................................................................... 12 1.13.5 Chapter 5 – Research Methodology. ........................................................................ 12 1.13.6 Chapter 6 – Research Results .................................................................................. 13 1.13.7 Chapter 7 – Synthesis of Components ..................................................................... 13 1.13.8 Chapter 8 – Research Summary ............................................................................... 13 1.13.9 Chapter 9 - Conclusion ............................................................................................. 13 1.14 Summary of Chapter ........................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................... 14 2.1 Aim of Chapter .................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Social Identity Theory .........................................................................................