Staci Singlak 885 A: E-Business I

Book Review The Tipping Point

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell was a quick and interesting read that provided insight into the events that trigger epidemics/ideas to reach the “tipping point.” Gladwell explores the elements needed to make a particular idea take hold and neatly categorizes the phenomenon into three rules: the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor and the Power of Context. The examples used by Gladwell logically work through the three rules and identify the tipping point. The methodology is presented in a simple format and highlights the impact of minor adjustments that are often overlooked. In the spirit of “less is more,” this book provides incentive to tackle seemingly insurmountable tasks with good old-fashioned “root cause” analysis. While the book is helpful in identifying the tipping point for past epidemics it is hard to have confidence in the science behind the process. Nearly all of the examples provided by Gladwell reached a tipping point by “surprise.” In hindsight the triggers appear obvious. Going forward I have to wonder how easy it is to align the necessary occurrences to create a tipping point. Significant research and product testing will obviously increase the chances of “tipping an idea,” however, with the speed of today’s economy how feasible is it to undergo such rigorous concept testing and still get a product to market before the trend passes? Regardless, the analysis of past epidemics by Gladwell certainly provides useful insight to take forward.