《國際通用系統雜志》主要發表對系統科學、基礎和應用的原始研究成果。但是，相關的調查文章、受邀的書評、參考書目和致編輯的信函也會被出版。該期刊的主要目的是推廣廣泛適用于各種系統的原始系統思想（概念、原理、方法、理論或實驗結果等）。期刊名稱中的“一般系統”一詞旨在表明這一目標——對具有普遍適用性的系統理念的定位。該期刊所涵蓋的典型學科領域包括：不確定性和隨機性；模糊性和不精確性；信息；復雜性；系統的歸納和演繹推理；學習；系統分析和設計；以及各類系統的理論和實驗知識。提交的研究必須有很好的介紹，并且必須清楚地說明其貢獻和新穎性。處理特定類型系統的手稿，這些系統在廣泛的系統范圍內缺乏普遍適用性，應發送給專門從事各自主題的期刊。編輯認為與這些目標和范圍不符的提交給期刊的稿件通常被拒絕。所有其他的手稿都要經過編輯部的同行評審。本雜志所有發表的研究文章都經過了嚴格的同行評審，通過最初的編輯篩選和獨立專家評審的匿名評審。

International Journal of General Systems is a periodical devoted primarily to the publication of original research contributions to system science, basic as well as applied. However, relevant survey articles, invited book reviews, bibliographies, and letters to the editor are also published. The principal aim of the journal is to promote original systems ideas (concepts, principles, methods, theoretical or experimental results, etc.) that are broadly applicable to various kinds of systems. The term “general system” in the name of the journal is intended to indicate this aim–the orientation to systems ideas that have a general applicability. Typical subject areas covered by the journal include: uncertainty and randomness; fuzziness and imprecision; information; complexity; inductive and deductive reasoning about systems; learning; systems analysis and design; and theoretical as well as experimental knowledge regarding various categories of systems. Submitted research must be well presented and must clearly state the contribution and novelty. Manuscripts dealing with particular kinds of systems which lack general applicability across a broad range of systems should be sent to journals specializing in the respective topics. Manuscripts submitted to the journal that the editors do not consider compatible with these Aims and Scope are routinely rejected. All other manuscripts are subject to peer review at the discretion of the Editorial Office. All published research articles in this journal have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and anonymous refereeing by independent expert referees.