Systems
Threshold
A critical point or level that, once crossed, triggers a significant change in system behavior—often a rapid shift to a different state.
Biological Context
Ecosystems can cross thresholds and flip to alternative stable states—coral reefs becoming algae-dominated, grasslands becoming deserts. Neural signals fire only when stimulus exceeds a threshold. Thresholds make systems non-linear and can cause sudden, dramatic changes.
Business Application
Business thresholds include minimum viable scale, price points that trigger different buyer behaviors, and market share levels that activate network effects.