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The purpose of this paper is to propose a new framework for the governance of 'modern' smart organisations that integrates IT‐based orientation to decision‐making, systems thinking through system dynamics modelling and cybernetics. The design of the proposed framework is based on the key role played by knowledge in the governance of organisations. The literature on ambidexterity, organisational learning, knowledge management and systems thinking is the adopted research background. A synthesis of the connection points between these fields is proposed within a theoretical framework named Smart Model‐based Organisations. The main result of this work is represented by the proposed Smart Model‐based Governance (SMbG) framework and an example of application. There are two main findings related to the contribution of the proposed framework: the overcoming of 'data‐based' approaches that favour rigidity in knowledge governance and the contribution of systems approaches that, increasing organisational involvement, improve knowledge governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a systemic model on the intertwined relations among managerialization, professionalization and firm economic performance, considering both business‐ and family‐specific features and issues. It sheds light on the role that, in the family business, the firm economic performance may play in favouring a positive development of both the business and the family itself. It aims at understanding how, in family businesses, the firm managerialization and professionalization may represent relevant drivers of firm performance. A Systems Thinking model based on causal loop diagrams was developed, to provide a clear framing of the interrelationships among the various aspects at stake. The conceptual model combines with systemic perspective all the variables and relationships that come into play when considering jointly the growth and development of the company and the family. This paper provides not only a conceptual background but also practical insights for family business' owners, managers and consultants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to count on tools to help software professionals to evaluate the software process and how it may be affected by factors related to its deployment. Simulation models are a valuable means to illustrate the behaviour of such a process since scenario generation supports the prediction of potential outcomes and the prevention of undesired scenarios which are harmful to the process and the company in charge of the project to be developed. This work explores the effectiveness of introducing system dynamics (SD) models in the software engineers' process of understanding, from a management perspective, the software process dynamics. The used SD simulation model of the software process emphasises the representation of an iterative process. The COCOMO II model drivers and their main attributes were used, providing a set of reference factors that affect the software process, the estimation of project cost and the effort required. A set of 59 junior software professionals with no previous knowledge about SD participated in a validation study. For simple predictive scenarios, there was no important improvement effect, while for more complex predictive scenarios SD helped them to guess better and provide a rationale for the expected behaviour of the software process performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, our society is increasingly becoming economically and socially dependent on the cyberspace. However, the cyberspace is exposed to numerous risks, and there is a constant threat of exploitable vulnerabilities, which could cause significant reputational and economic damages. For addressing these threats, the Italian National Cyber Security Framework was developed to offer an approach to assessing cyber risks into organizations, as well as to help improve the related security through focused investments. Still, this evaluation is not a straightforward endeavour. Using the principles of the Systems Thinking paradigm, this work puts into causal relationships the self‐assessment risk‐categories by associating them to the various aspects of an organization structure used as a case study (composed of business areas and process). Finally, it presents a systemic causal‐effect relationship map capable of evidencing how a change in one or more categories could impact other security‐related elements of the company. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]