Abstract

This article reviews some of the main concepts of the Systems Theory, which provides a unifying theoretical framework for natural sciences and social sciences that enables us to better understand the nature and complexity of health organizations. The article defines the concept of system in reference to physical/concrete systems as well as abstract systems. Systems can also be classified with respect to their relation with the environment, thus open or closed. Systems Theory states that a system is a totality and that its components and attributes can only be fully comprehended as functions of the whole. The article introduces and explains the properties of a system, considering both organic and social systems.