Biology
Nutrient
A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and life maintenance. Nutrients include macronutrients (needed in large amounts) and micronutrients (needed in trace amounts).
Biological Context
Organisms require nutrients they cannot synthesize themselves. Nutrient availability often limits growth. Nutrients cycle through ecosystems—absorbed by organisms, released through decomposition. Nutrient imbalances cause deficiency diseases or toxicity.
Business Application
Business nutrients: the essential inputs organizations need—capital, talent, information, relationships. Nutrient deficiencies limit growth regardless of other resources. Identifying and securing limiting nutrients is key to organizational health.