[1] It was conceived as a specific instance of the more general 'butterfly effect' encountered in chaos theory.
Complex systems, in domains such as physics, biology, or sociology, are known to be prone to both path dependence and emergent behavior.
In innovation settings, however, because success is based upon creativity, managers must actively embrace uncertainty.
[5] Most butterflies end up 'merely' consuming a considerable amount of time and resources within a project, or for an innovation portfolio, within a firm.
However, some butterflies can also unleash regime-altering emergent outcomes within an entire industry segment.