Quorum Sensing
Companies use threshold-based decision-making similar to quorum sensing.
The organization waits for a signal to cross a threshold before triggering coordinated behavior change. Too early = wasted effort. Too late = missed opportunity.
Bacteria coordinate using chemical signaling called quorum sensing. Each cell produces small amounts of autoinducers. As population grows, concentration increases. When it crosses a threshold (indicating high density = quorum), bacteria detect it and change behavior.
Vibrio fischeri doesn't bioluminesce at low density (waste of energy). At 10^11 cells/mL, quorum sensing triggers bioluminescence genes - the entire colony lights up synchronously. Pseudomonas aeruginosa waits for quorum before producing toxins, overwhelming immune systems with coordinated attack.
Business Application of Quorum Sensing
Companies use threshold-based decision-making similar to quorum sensing. Stripe's '$5M ARR threshold' for hiring VP of Sales ensured the organization was ready before triggering coordinated behavior change. Below threshold = wasted effort. Above threshold with delay = missed opportunity.
Discovery
Woody Hastings (1960)
Observed Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence was density-dependent - cultures remained dark at low density but lit up when population crossed ~10^7 cells/mL threshold, discovering that bacteria were 'counting themselves'
Quorum Sensing Appears in 2 Chapters
Bacteria coordinate attacks using quorum sensing - autoinducer concentration reflects population density, triggering synchronized action when numbers are sufficient.
Chemical coordination through quorum sensing →Quorum sensing creates bistable switches - populations flip sharply between OFF and ON states when autoinducer concentration crosses thresholds.
The mechanics of quorum sensing →Related Mechanisms for Quorum Sensing
Related Organisations for Quorum Sensing
Related Organisms for Quorum Sensing
Related Frameworks for Quorum Sensing
Related Research for Quorum Sensing
Business Applications
Business concepts that rely on this mechanism: