CHAPTER 10
BUSINESS GROWTH AND THE ENTREPRENEUR
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This chapter discusses the effect of company growth on the entrepreneur. It
identifies the different skills needed by entrepreneurs as their companies grow, how the
entrepreneur’s personality and company size must match, and why some entrepreneurs
become dissatisfied when a company grows to a large size. Finally, it discusses options
available to the entrepreneur if he or she does not find fulfillment running a large
company.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
To understand how the skills needed by the entrepreneur will change as the
business grows.
To comprehend why the entrepreneur should consider tailoring the size of the
business to his or her personality.
To be able to explain why some entrepreneurs become dissatisfied when a
company grows too large.
To understand the entrepreneur’s option if the company becomes too large.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
I. Business Growth and Management Skills
A. Growth Patterns
1. Company growth is not always a simple, linear progression.
2. Some firms grow and then backslide whereas others skip growth
stages that others experience.
3. The common stages of business development include conception,
survival, stabilization, growth orientation, and maturity.
B. Personnel Management
1. In the early years of the company, management problems focused
on time management, setting goals, and measuring performance.
