The Law of the Minimum

The Law of the Minimum is a principle that suggests the growth or success of a system, like a plant or an organization, is limited by the resource that is in shortest supply. For example, a plant needs water, sunlight, nutrients, and carbon dioxide to grow. If it has plenty of water but not enough sunlight, its growth will be stunted by the lack of sunlight, not the abundance of water. In essence, no matter how much of other resources are available, the most limiting factor will determine the overall outcome or performance.