Greiner's growth model- 3.9.1

Question 1

What are the 6 phases and their crises?

Answer 1

Growth: direction- crisis of leadership.
Growth: delegation- crisis of autonomy.
Growth: co-ordination- crisis of control.
Growth: collaboration- crisis of red tape.
Growth: alliances- crisis of growth.

Question 2

Describe growth phase 1: direction- crisis of leadership.

Answer 2

Communication failing.

Business too big for leader to get involved in everything

Question 3

Describe 2nd growth phase: delegation- crisis of autonomy.

Answer 3

Functional management.

Founder/ leader struggles to let go.

Question 4

Describe 3rd growth phase: coordination- crisis of control

Answer 4

Formal management structure.

New layers of hierarchy needed to keep control.

Question 5

Describe 4th growth phase: collaboration- crisis of red tape.

Answer 5

Dangerous growth in organisational bureaucracy.

Slows decision-making and missing external changes.

Question 6

Describe 5th growth phase: alliances- crisis of growth

Answer 6

Growth slowing as business runs out of ideas.

Alliances sought.

Question 7

Criticisms of Greiner’s growth model.

Answer 7

Simplistic.
Not all businesses suffer crises as it grows- adapt without crises.
Doesn’t take pace of growth into account.

Question 8

Criticisms of Greiner’s growth model.

Answer 8

Simplistic.
Not all businesses suffer crises as it grows- adapt without crises.
Doesn’t take pace of growth into account.