Graded Urgency Systems
Organizations need P1/P2/P3 severity levels, not binary OK/ALARM states.
Multi-level alarm systems allow proportional responses to different threat levels. Meerkats have graded calls: recruitment call (sentinel on duty, all is well), low-urgency alarm (predator distant, group becomes vigilant but continues foraging), and high-urgency alarm (predator close, group flees to burrow).
The graded structure prevents unnecessary stampedes (low-urgency alarms allow cost-benefit assessment) while ensuring rapid response to genuine threats. Binary alarm states (OK/ALARM) force all-or-nothing responses, leading to habituation and alarm fatigue.
Business Application of Graded Urgency Systems
Organizations need P1/P2/P3 severity levels, not binary OK/ALARM states. Graded urgency prevents alarm fatigue (not every alert requires dropping everything) while ensuring existential threats get immediate executive attention.