Organizational Growth and Development

Abstract

Abstract This chapter defines growth as change in an organization ‘s size when size is measured by the organization ‘s membership or employment, and it defines development as change in an organization ‘s age. The chapter considers why and how organizations grow and develop, and it examines effects of growth and development on organizational structure and behavior. Many words have been written about growth and development. The bibliography includes over two hundred items. The chapter ‘s primary goal is to review this literature. In some cases, it is a critical review, but it is also an optimistic review. Some of the work is interesting, imaginative, empirically based, and methodologically sound. There have been attempts to construct theories and to make predictions. There is even some consistency among studies.