A planned, gradual process of phasing out a product, service, or technology over a specified timeframe. Unlike abrupt discontinuation, sunsetting provides customers and stakeholders time to transition to alternatives.
Metaphorically derived from the natural phenomenon of sunset, where daylight gradually fades rather than disappearing instantly. This business terminology emerged in the 1980s tech industry, where the gentle imagery helped soften the harsh reality of killing profitable but outdated products.
The term 'sunsetting' is brilliant corporate psychology - it frames ending something as natural and beautiful rather than as a business failure. Companies discovered that calling it 'sunsetting' instead of 'killing' or 'terminating' made customers and employees more accepting of the change, reducing resistance and backlash!
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