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#tom watson

August 2026 1 note

ideas updated 15 min read

FIELD STATION as a viable system

AI summary

Doug's note, "FIELD STATION as a viable system," discusses the application of the Viable System Model (VSM) to build a sustainable business for FIELD STATION, an action lab investigating the future of work, technology, and society. The note outlines the five systems of VSM (Systems 1-5) and how they apply to the field they work in, which lacks System 2 and System 5 coordination and identity, respectively. Doug suggests that TechFreedom, a program they offer, can help supply some of what's missing, acting as a System 2 and System 4 instrument for other organisations. The note also covers coordination, decision-making, and identity within FIELD STATION itself, as well as the potential role of AI in meeting the "requisite variety" in their work.

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