conglomeration of interrelated and interdependent parts that is either natural or man-made ➢ Every system is delineated by its spatial and temporal boundaries, surrounded and influenced by its environment, described by its structure and purpose or nature and expressed in its functioning ➢ In terms of its effects, a system can be more than the sum of its parts if it expresses synergy or emergent behavior ➢ Changing one part of the system usually affects other parts and the whole system, with predictable patterns of behavior ➢ For systems that are self-learning and self-adapting, the positive growth and adaptation depend upon how well the system is adjusted with its environment