Critical Mass

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Critical Mass

1. A situation that can no longer be ignored. For example, if an employee who makes co-workers of the opposite sex uncomfortable makes unwanted sexual advances toward the chief financial officer, the situation is said to have reached critical mass, and the employee must immediately be disciplined or fired.

2. The point at which a product or company has become sufficiently popular to take off and become commonly used. For example, a company that has posted a profit for three years in a row and has respectable financials may reach critical mass and become extremely attractive to investors.

Mentioned in ?

References in periodicals archive ?

A rider seeking to cross traffic generally has to wait for other cyclists to gather at the same intersection until the bikers' numbers reach a critical mass in which the group can forge ahead against traffic and drivers comply due to the sheer number of bikers moving in that direction.

LONG BEACH CYCLISTS REACH "CRITICAL MASS"

Zocalo and Critical Mass already have foundations in each other's areas of expertise.

Critical Mass Acquires Chicago Digital, Social Media Agency Zocalo

In 2030 will audiences still reach critical masses?

The future of television revealed in ten steps

As such, and by the artist's design, the individual porcelain sheets are more densely clustered in the installation's centre and gradually become more dispersed toward its edge, thus reinforcing the idea of critical mass. Symbolising the position of the individual within larger society, each porcelain page of text is unique but weighs in as part of a complex whole, aesthetically allowing for a visually--and conceptually--compelling resolution of the piece.

Henny Linn Kjellberg: Critical Mass

But Leamington resident Kate Haines, who runs Greenfinder, an online directory of green businesses and services, has seen the positive impact critical mass can bring.

Critical mass is a chance to reclaim the roads; IT'S a global cycling phenomenon with regular events in every major UK city. MARY GRIFFIN asks why critical mass hasn't made its way to Coventry

Starting with a dozen cyclists in San Francisco 21 years ago, critical mass rides now happen in more than 300 cities around the world, each taking its own unique slant.

Mass bike ride is a celebration of cycling; Cyclists are taking to the streets in Birmingham in a critical mass. MARY GRIFFIN joins 100 bikers as they weave through the city as part of a monthly quest to celebrate their pastime

Today, the Saputo European business does not have sufficient critical mass to be profitable and the company does not see short to mid-term opportunities to ensure such profitability.

Saputo calls time on cheese plant

In communication parlance, critical mass refers to the moment when a particular network expands to the point that it becomes self-sustaining, continuing to grow without needing additional external input.

Leveraging networks

Much of the discussion in the courtroom centered around how to define "critical mass" when it comes to diversity.

SCOTUS Takes Aim at Key Question in UT Case

It took a very long time to build a critical mass of bar-coded merchandise, to the point where the entire process--manufacturing through consumption--could be positively impacted.

What's XBRL reporting got do with got to do with bar godes?

Tel Aviv -- PNN - The verdict in the case of Israeli activist Jonathan Pollak, charged with illegal assembly for his participation in a January 2008 Critical Mass ride against the siege on Gaza, will be handed down on December 27, 2010 at 10:00 at the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court.