A significant portion of Unit I offers an overview of the entire course. Unit I itself covers history and evolving definitions of systems theory as well as distinctions between the nature of being, systems, and being aligned with systems.

Unit I sheds light on issues defining isolated components of systems as well as composites of components and systems within systems. It establishes theoretical foundation of human beings possessing a gamut of properties, characteristics and powers attached to their essence and potential. Insights about the nature of ‘composite relationships’ and their influence on larger system dynamics are also examined along with variables of change, growth, and entropy.