Burning Platform Definition

A burning platform is a metaphor used to describe a situation where someone is faced with the choice of staying on a platform that is gradually sinking into lava, or jumping off and risking injury.

The term was popularized by former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop in a 2011 memo, where he compared the company’s then-dire situation to a man stranded on a burning oil platform. In the memo, Elop warned that Nokia was in danger of ‘losing its grip’ and needed to take ‘drastic action’ in order to survive.

While the metaphor has been widely criticized for its callousness (particularly in light of the fact that thousands of Nokia employees lost their jobs as a result of Elop’s decisions), it nonetheless accurately captures the sense of urgency that can be present in situations where radical change is necessary.