Mechanism
Climax Trap
TL;DR
The paradox that complete success in stage N creates maximum vulnerability in stage N+1.
Maturity is not an achievement. It's a vulnerability.
Early ecological theory proposed that succession leads to a stable 'climax community' optimized for local conditions. Modern ecology recognizes this as oversimplified - there is no permanent stable endpoint, only continuous change. Systems that achieve apparent stability become vulnerable to disturbance.
Business Application of Climax Trap
The paradox that complete success in stage N creates maximum vulnerability in stage N+1. Organizations that achieve market dominance often rigidly resist renewal, becoming optimized for current conditions while losing capacity to adapt. Maturity is not an achievement - it's a vulnerability.