Ossification
The process by which cartilage or other tissue is transformed into bone, or more generally, the hardening of any flexible structure into rigid form.
Biological Context
During development, cartilage templates gradually ossify into bone. Growth plates remain as cartilage while the organism is growing, then ossify when growth is complete—typically in late adolescence. Once ossified, the structure is permanent and cannot grow longer. The timing of ossification is hormonally controlled, varying by species and individual.
Business Application
Organizational ossification: the hardening of flexible processes into rigid policies, experimental teams into permanent bureaucracies, or adaptable strategies into fixed orthodoxies. Some ossification is necessary (it provides structure and efficiency), but premature or excessive ossification prevents growth and adaptation. The question is what should remain flexible and what should solidify.