Document Type : Original Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of management, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of management, khatam university, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of management, Khatam university, Tehran, Iran
4 Faculty of management, University of Tehran
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: the effective functioning of an ecosystem depends on synergistic collaboration among a diverse set of actors and the interactions between them. The primary objective of the present study is to analyze the current structure of Iran’s insurance ecosystem with a focus on information technology and to propose an optimal structure through the application of the Viable System Model (VSM).
METHODS: Given that the present study seeks to provide a structural and holistic analysis grounded in the country’s specific socio-economic and political conditions, it adopts, from the perspective of contemporary research methodology, an interpretive paradigm with a qualitative approach within the framework of the Viable System Model (VSM). Data were collected through library research, examination of relevant documents, and interviews conducted with 19 experts from the insurance industry. The data were analyzed in three stages in accordance with the Viable System Model: mapping actors into the five subsystems, identifying missing roles and structural bottlenecks, and designing the proposed model. To ensure the validity and rigor of the study, the trustworthiness criteria—including credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability—as well as the evaluation criteria for VSM outputs, were employed.
FINDINGS: A structural analysis based on the Viable System Model (VSM) indicates that the primary focus of information technology development has been directed toward operational functions (System 1) and, to some extent, control functions (System 3). In contrast, the vital functions related to coordination, strategic foresight, and high-level policy-making lack sufficient institutional and technological support. This functional imbalance has weakened system viability and reduced the adaptability capacity of the insurance ecosystem in response to environmental changes.
At the level of System 2 (coordination), the absence of common data standards, weak inter-organizational interoperability, and the limitation of information systems to post hoc monitoring were identified as the most important sources of institutional misalignment. At the level of System 4 (intelligence and innovation), the lack of a governing body responsible for monitoring technological developments and steering digital innovation has led to fragmented and non-systematic responses to environmental changes. Furthermore, at the level of System 5 (policy and data governance), the multiplicity of decision-making centers and the absence of a coherent framework for information technology and data governance have resulted in weakened systemic identity and increased institutional risks. Accordingly, the study proposes a set of new actors in two categories—“institutional–policy” and “technological–operational”—aimed at strengthening systemic coordination, improving data governance, and enhancing operational efficiency. Overall, the findings suggest that achieving the viability of Iran’s insurance ecosystem requires a shift from a siloed, technology-centric approach to a systemic and integrated approach to information technology.
CONCLUSION: The proposed model of the study indicates that the viability of Iran’s insurance ecosystem requires a redesign of both policy and operational roles. The application of the Viable System Model enables the systematic identification of structural gaps and the design of a coherent technological ecosystem, which are elaborated in the article. The novelty of this study lies in its integration of the Viable System Model (VSM) with IT infrastructure in the insurance industry of Iran, a combination that has not previously been explored in the literature. While global research has often applied VSM to different sectors, and other local studies have examined the role of information technology in insurance, no prior work has systematically combined these two perspectives. Given the qualitative and structural nature of the present study, and the application of the Viable System Model (VSM) as a diagnostic–design framework for analyzing the information technology infrastructure of the Iranian insurance industry, it is recommended that future research be developed along several complementary trajectories. These include, the comparative application of the VSM in other technological ecosystems; the examination of inter-level dynamics within the Viable System Model; and the investigation of the role of data governance and information architecture in system viability. Like all research endeavors, the present study is subject to certain limitations. It was conducted using a qualitative approach, drawing upon interviews with 19 experts from the insurance industry, content analysis of official documents, and a review of the relevant scholarly literature. Although this methodological approach provides an in-depth understanding of the dynamics and structural challenges of information technology infrastructure in the Iranian insurance industry, it is not without constraints. Among these is the relatively limited sample size. Nevertheless, this study offers a valuable foundation for future quantitative and mixed-methods research capable of testing and generalizing the findings on a broader scale.
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