System characteristics describe the fundamental behaviors associated with a particular system type. Because these characteristics are common to all systems of a given type, they are also referred to as behavioral principles. The characteristics of primary concern for strategic management are those of a social system, which is a model for the business organization.

Social system characteristics --

• Openness
• Purposefulness
• Multidimensionality
• Emergence
• Counter intuitiveness

See social system for an elaboration on these characteristics in a comprehensive description of a social system.