Sustainable organisational design is essential for B2B multi-sided cooperative food platforms because it enables regional businesses, including restaurateurs, shopkeepers, and food producers, to adapt to changing market conditions, evolving customer needs, and increasing competitive pressures. In German-speaking Switzerland, platforms involving short food supply chains foster a community-based model that emphasises sustainability and local sourcing. However, these platforms often face challenges in coordinating supply chain operations and managing stakeholder collaboration and resource allocation.

This research applies the Viable System Model (VSM) to diagnose organisational inefficiencies and propose design recommendations that enhance resilience and long-term viability. The VSM framework suggests that complex organisations can navigate unpredictable environments effectively by following the principles of viability, recursiveness, and autonomy. Using a Design Science Research approach, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with experts in the food supply chain industry. The insights inform the application of the VSM framework to understand organisational complexity and develop actionable recommendations, which are then evaluated through follow-up expert interviews. The study provides both theoretical contributions to the application of cybernetic principles in organisational design and practical guidance for improving the effectiveness, adaptability, and sustainability of B2B multi-sided short food supply chain platforms.