Every technologist have heard the buzzwords Cutting Edge and Bleeding Edge. 

This is the choice presented when selecting technology for mission critical objective. It's important that the technology selected not only meets the goals but is tried and tested fully. This is true for the complex organizations that cannot afford to fail, cannot use beta products or the versions of the product which are not yet fully matured with all the major defects fixed.

On the other hand, sometimes organizations wants the technology that ahead of it's time even if all the bugs are not removed fully removed. Military weapons and warplanes are good examples for adopting to technologies which are not yet fully matured but can gain significant competitive advantage. 

Metaphorically speaking, the tip of the knife is a bleeding edge and the better part of the knife that does most of the cutting is called cutting edge.