Despite being a common childhood complaint there is little research on growing pains. Existing research is inconsistent with regard to sample selection and prevalence rates. There are only two English language intervention studies, and with the exception of associations noted in prevalence research, there has been no systematic research on the potential impact of growing pains on daily activities. Lack of a universal definition of growing pains poses difficulty for both diagnosis and research. The purposes of the current investigation were to propose a definition of growing pains grounded in literature and clinical practice, to develop a conceptual model of growing pains, and to understand childrens experiences with growing pains. A mixed-method research program involved four phases. In phase I, a survey of physicians indicated the following definition of growing pains: Intermittent pain of unknown etiology, occurring nocturnally in the lower limbs. Features that may occur in some cases, but not part of the definition, include arm pain and daytime pain. In phase II, non-parametric statistical analyses of child, familial, and environmental variables in a rheumatology clinic database were conducted to determine potential risk factors for growing pains. Logistic regression modeling indicated an association between growing pains and maternal illness or rash during the pregnancy, maternal smoking during the pregnancy, delayed pull to standing (i.e., greater than age 10 months), and family histories of back pain and arthritis. Potential mechanisms for these empirical associations are explored. In phase III, qualitative interviews with children were conducted to develop a grounded theory of how children process their experiences. Children engaged in a process of evaluating their current and past experiences of growing pains to determine how to manage specific pain episodes. Their evaluation was influenced by how they understood their pain which in turn was influenced by their intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences. Phase IV integrated results and existing literature to develop a conceptual model of growing pains which outlines characteristic features, predisposing factors, triggers, alleviating actions, and associated psychosocial features. Implications of the process theory and the conceptual model of growing pains with regard to clinical practice and future research are discussed.

Despite being a common childhood complaint there is little research on growing pains. Existing research is inconsistent with regard to sample selection and prevalence rates. There are only two English language intervention studies, and with the exception of associations noted in prevalence research, there has been no systematic research on the potential impact of growing pains on daily activities. Lack of a universal definition of growing pains poses difficulty for both diagnosis and research. The purposes of the current investigation were to propose a definition of growing pains grounded in literature and clinical practice, to develop a conceptual model of growing pains, and to understand childrens experiences with growing pains. A mixed-method research program involved four phases. In phase I, a survey of physicians indicated the following definition of growing pains: Intermittent pain of unknown etiology, occurring nocturnally in the lower limbs. Features that may occur in some cases, but not part of the definition, include arm pain and daytime pain. In phase II, non-parametric statistical analyses of child, familial, and environmental variables in a rheumatology clinic database were conducted to determine potential risk factors for growing pains. Logistic regression modeling indicated an association between growing pains and maternal illness or rash during the pregnancy, maternal smoking during the pregnancy, delayed pull to standing (i.e., greater than age 10 months), and family histories of back pain and arthritis. Potential mechanisms for these empirical associations are explored. In phase III, qualitative interviews with children were conducted to develop a grounded theory of how children process their experiences. Children engaged in a process of evaluating their current and past experiences of growing pains to determine how to manage specific pain episodes. Their evaluation was influenced by how they understood their pain which in turn was influenced by their intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences. Phase IV integrated results and existing literature to develop a conceptual model of growing pains which outlines characteristic features, predisposing factors, triggers, alleviating actions, and associated psychosocial features. Implications of the process theory and the conceptual model of growing pains with regard to clinical practice and future research are discussed.

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Bakgrund Gaseller är små- och medelstora företag (SME: s) med hög tillväxttakt som konstant skapar nya arbetstillfällen och har en positiv inverkan på den svenska ekonomin. Många författare anser att en differentieringsfokus är mest lämpligt för SME: s för de ska kunna skapa konkurrensfördelar och tillväxt. Denna fokus är ett strategiskt val som underbyggs av innovationsförmåga. Dock, när konkurrensfördelen leder till snabb tillväxt så uppstår växtvärk. Följaktligen, vad händer med SME: s innovativa förmåga under snabb tillväxt och vidare, hur påverkar detta SME: s förmåga att uppnå långsiktig tillväxt? Syfte Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur snabb tillväxt i SME: s påverkar deras förmåga att uppnå långsiktig tillväxt. Metod För att uppnå syftet med denna uppsats så har en jämförande analys utförts baserat på en holistisk undersökning av ett flertal case. Undersökningen inkluderade fem tillverkande SME: s belägna Jönköpings län som alla mottagit utmärkelsen ”Gasell” från den svenska finansiella tidningen Dagens Industri. Denna utmärkelse de-las ut till företag som fördubblat sin omsättning under en period av tre år samtidigt som de haft positiv tillväxt och en stabil ekonomisk situation (DI, 2005). Slutsats Efter att ha analyserat de empiriska resultaten med passande teori kunde några övergripande slutsatser dras. Studien kunde visa att den växtvärk som ofta uppstår i SME: s som genomgår en period av snabb tillväxt påverkar den interna organisationen att anpassa sig till ökad komplexitet och resursbrist på ett sätt som har en negativ påverkan på deras innovativa förmåga. Det fanns också tendenser att detta i sin tur hade negativ effekt på SME: s förmåga att växa i ett långsiktigt perspektiv. / Background Gazelles are high growth Small Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) that constantly are creating new job-opportunities and contributing positively to the Swedish economy. In order to achieve competitive advantage and growth for SMEs, several authors argue that a focus on differentiation is most suitable, which is a strategic approach mainly underpinned by innovative ability. However, when competitive advantage leads to rapid growth certain growing pains occur. Thus, when SMEs are growing rapidly, what happens to their innovative ability and further how does this affect their long-term growth? Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to explore how rapid growth in SMEs affects their ability to attain long-term growth. Method In order to fulfil the purpose, a comparison analysis has been conducted based on a holistic multi-case study. The cases included five manufacturing SMEs in Jönköping County, of which all have been appointed the Gazelle-award issued by the Swedish financial newspaper Dagens Industri. This award is given to companies that have doubled its turnover in three years, while simultaneously having positive growth and a stable economical situation. Conclusion After analysing the empirical results with appropriate theories, some main conclusions could be reached. The study could demonstrate that the growing pains, often emerging in SMEs experiencing rapid growth, influence the organization to adapt itself to the increasing complexity and resource constraints in a way that has a negative affect on the their innovative ability. There was further some support that this in turn had a negative affect on SMEs ability to grow in a long-term per-spective.

<p>Bakgrund</p><p>Gaseller är små- och medelstora företag (SME: s) med hög tillväxttakt som konstant skapar nya arbetstillfällen och har en positiv inverkan på den svenska ekonomin. Många författare anser att en differentieringsfokus är mest lämpligt för SME: s för de ska kunna skapa konkurrensfördelar och tillväxt. Denna fokus är ett strategiskt val som underbyggs av innovationsförmåga. Dock, när konkurrensfördelen leder till snabb tillväxt så uppstår växtvärk. Följaktligen, vad händer med SME: s innovativa förmåga under snabb tillväxt och vidare, hur påverkar detta SME: s förmåga att uppnå långsiktig tillväxt?</p><p>Syfte</p><p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur snabb tillväxt i SME: s påverkar deras förmåga att uppnå långsiktig tillväxt.</p><p>Metod</p><p>För att uppnå syftet med denna uppsats så har en jämförande analys utförts baserat på en holistisk undersökning av ett flertal case. Undersökningen inkluderade fem tillverkande SME: s belägna Jönköpings län som alla mottagit utmärkelsen ”Gasell” från den svenska finansiella tidningen Dagens Industri. Denna utmärkelse de-las ut till företag som fördubblat sin omsättning under en period av tre år samtidigt som de haft positiv tillväxt och en stabil ekonomisk situation (DI, 2005).</p><p>Slutsats</p><p>Efter att ha analyserat de empiriska resultaten med passande teori kunde några övergripande slutsatser dras. Studien kunde visa att den växtvärk som ofta uppstår i SME: s som genomgår en period av snabb tillväxt påverkar den interna organisationen att anpassa sig till ökad komplexitet och resursbrist på ett sätt som har en negativ påverkan på deras innovativa förmåga. Det fanns också tendenser att detta i sin tur hade negativ effekt på SME: s förmåga att växa i ett långsiktigt perspektiv.</p> / <p>Background</p><p>Gazelles are high growth Small Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) that constantly are creating new job-opportunities and contributing positively to the Swedish economy. In order to achieve competitive advantage and growth for SMEs, several authors argue that a focus on differentiation is most suitable, which is a strategic approach mainly underpinned by innovative ability. However, when competitive advantage leads to rapid growth certain growing pains occur. Thus, when SMEs are growing rapidly, what happens to their innovative ability and further how does this affect their long-term growth?</p><p>Purpose</p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to explore how rapid growth in SMEs affects their ability to attain long-term growth.</p><p>Method</p><p>In order to fulfil the purpose, a comparison analysis has been conducted based on a holistic multi-case study. The cases included five manufacturing SMEs in Jönköping County, of which all have been appointed the Gazelle-award issued by the Swedish financial newspaper Dagens Industri. This award is given to companies that have doubled its turnover in three years, while simultaneously having positive growth and a stable economical situation.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>After analysing the empirical results with appropriate theories, some main conclusions could be reached. The study could demonstrate that the growing pains, often emerging in SMEs experiencing rapid growth, influence the organization to adapt itself to the increasing complexity and resource constraints in a way that has a negative affect on the their innovative ability. There was further some support that this in turn had a negative affect on SMEs ability to grow in a long-term per-spective.</p>

Many companies must undergo organizational changes to achieve a more efficient business. This essay has focused on studying a small company, its development as well as its need for change. The company, Pärlans Konfektyr AB, is a manufacturing company located in Stockholm that has been operating since 2010. The company has in recent years, firmly increased its sales and is facing a number of changes as the company has grown.   The need for changes was mainly identified as technical, because of the need to implement a new business system. Understanding how a change takes place and how an organization can accomplish an implementation effectively is important as it requires a lot of time and resources. This has been investigated by studying theories and models for successful change and implementation work in previous research. The purpose of the study is to create an understanding of what kind of organizational changes a small company stands in front of and how these can be implemented in a successful way. The survey is a qualitative study and in order to be able to answer the study's research question, an interview survey has been applied, where the data has been analyzed and compared with previous research in the field. The conclusion of this study is that Pärlans Konfektyr AB is in a stage of ‘’growing pains’’ which leads to different challenges for companies that have strong growth in a short time. In combination with this growth, there is a need for new structures and routines in the business, for which several models from previous research can serve as auxiliary tools.

Previous research has extensively studied growth and its effect on organizations. The general conception is that growth results in a need for professionalization within the organizations, in which the management processes are formalised. However, the growth’s and professionalization’s impact on organizational familiarity has not had significant research conducted. Previous research on the phenomenon has argued that professionalization has a negative effect on familiarity, and that the company loses its familiarity as a result. This study aims to explore and gain an understanding of this supposed relationship and how organizations can balance professionalism and familiarity. Additionally, it sets out to examine how organizations have managed their growth and how they have overcome the challenges which the growth has resulted in, with a particular focus on how the relationship between familiarity and professionalism has developed. The study has examined two companies which have experienced growth, and who were in two different phases of their professionalization process. Through interviews with relevant executives, in addition to their employees, the study examined how the growth had affected their business and its need for professionalization. Furthermore, the study has also explored the impact of growth and professionalization on the organizations’ familiarity, with the objective to understand what challenges the companies had faced due to these processes. The result of the study implies that the growth has a negative effect on the organizations’ familiarity, while the professionalization has positive effects with no apparent negative consequences. The professionalization has been a tool for organizations to keep their familiarity as well as to reinforce it. Furthermore the study’s results show that it is possible to formalize informal controls, and that this is an instrument which the organizations can use to strengthen their familiarity. The companies’ biggest challenge with growth and professionalization is the recruitment and socialization of new employees into the organizational culture, which has a clear effect on the organizations’ familiarity. / Tidigare litteratur har omfattat studerat tillväxten och dess inverkan på företag. Den generella uppfattningen är att tillväxten resulterar i ett behov av professionalisering inom företagen, i vilket styrningen formaliseras. Däremot har tillväxtens och professionaliseringens inverkan på familjariteten inom företag studerats i begränsad omfattning. Den tidigare litteratur som behandlat fenomenet har argumenterat för att professionaliseringen har en negativ inverkan på företags familjaritet, och att det resulterar i att organisationerna förlorar den familjaritet de tidigare präglats av. Studien syftar således till att undersöka och skapa förståelse för hur företag som växer kan balansera professionalism och familjaritet. Studien ämnar även undersöka hur organisationer hanterat tillväxten och hur de lyckats överkomma de problem som detta medfört, med särskilt fokus på hur relationen mellan familjaritet och professionalism utvecklats. Denna studie har undersökt två företag vilka båda upplevt tillväxt, och vilka befann sig i olika faser av deras professionaliseringsprocess. Genom intervjuer med organisationernas företagsledare såväl som anställda har studien undersökt hur tillväxten har påverkat företagen och vad den haft för inverkan på företagens behov av professionalisering. Studien har även behandlat tillväxtens och professionaliseringens inverkan på familjariteten inom företagen, samt vilka utmaningar som företagen upplevt till följd av denna process. Studiens resultat tyder på att tillväxten har en negativ inverkan på företagens familjaritet, men att professionaliseringen endast har positiva effekter. Professionaliseringen har varit ett verktyg för företagen att bevara familjariteten och även förstärka denna. Vidare visar studiens resultat att det är möjligt att formalisera den informella styrningen, och att detta är ett verktyg vilka företagen kan använda för att stärka familjariteten. Företagens största utmaning vid tillväxt och professionalisering är rekryteringen och socialiseringen av de nyanställda mot företagets kultur, vilket har en tydlig inverkan på företagets familjaritet.