This practicum examines the challenges encountered during the development process of slow growth cities. Specific consideration is given to the social realm and the challenges of encouraging socially sustainable development within the slow growth context. A comparative approach to the research was taken. Two case studies were examined. The first study examined the development process of the City of Vancouver. Specific consideration was given to the policies, processes and techniques used in Vancouver to encourage social sustainability. The second study examined the City of Winnipeg. The City of Winnipeg was the focus of the practicum. Lessons from the City of Vancouver were extracted and compared to the City of Winnipeg experience. The end result was a series of recommendations of how the City of Winnipeg could more successfully encourage social sustainability through development.

This practicum examines the challenges encountered during the development process of slow growth cities. Specific consideration is given to the social realm and the challenges of encouraging socially sustainable development within the slow growth context. A comparative approach to the research was taken. Two case studies were examined. The first study examined the development process of the City of Vancouver. Specific consideration was given to the policies, processes and techniques used in Vancouver to encourage social sustainability. The second study examined the City of Winnipeg. The City of Winnipeg was the focus of the practicum. Lessons from the City of Vancouver were extracted and compared to the City of Winnipeg experience. The end result was a series of recommendations of how the City of Winnipeg could more successfully encourage social sustainability through development.

Submitted by Celso Magalhaes (celsomagalhaes@ufrrj.br) on 2018-08-23T14:07:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Barbara Brandt Moura.pdf: 2285485 bytes, checksum: 9eae3c35e652afad0a110dc64eafec10 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T14:07:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Barbara Brandt Moura.pdf: 2285485 bytes, checksum: 9eae3c35e652afad0a110dc64eafec10 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-28 / Summary chapter 1 Lysine is an essential amino acid used as a reference in diet formulations based on the ideal protein concept and is also the main nutrient involved in the muscular development of broilers. Research related to the requirement of lysine for broilers with lower genetic potential for growth are scarce and sometimes quite divergent. The objective of this study is to determine digestible lysine requirements for male broilers with lower genetic potential for growth. A total of 520 male broilers of the RedBro-plum? commercial strain from 42 to 72 days of age and slaughtered at 73 days of age were used. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC), with five treatments with four replicates with 26 broilers each. The treatments were constituted with the values 0.689, 0.842, 0.995, 1.148 and 1.301% of digestible lysine obtained from the addition of L-Lysine HCl to the basal diet, replacing the corn starch. In parameter of negative linear recess performance for feed conversion and linear and line use efficiency positive for lysine consumption. In carcass traits, there was a negative linear regression in absolute carcass, breast, wing, thigh + overcook and heart and quadratic effects for absolute fat weight, back yield and relative fat weight. The lowest digestible lysine in the feed, 0.689%, determining adequate performance and carcass characteristics. However, lower abdominal fat deposition would be obtained with 1.05% digestible lysine in the diet, it can be considered the requirement value for slow-growing male broilers in the evaluated phase. The qualitative food restriction consists in the dilution of the diets, through the inclusion of ingredients with low nutritional value, in order to reduce the amount of nutrients absorbed. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the rates with different inclusion levels of ground Tifton 85 hay in the proportions of 0, 5, 10 and 15%. A total of 288 male broilers of the RedBro-plum? lineage were used, in a completely randomized design, in 4 treatments and 4 replicates of 18 broilers each. As broilers received as experimental feeds from 42 to 72 days of age. At 73 days the chickens were slaughtered for carcass analysis and intestine collections were performed in 8 broilers per replicate for morphological and morphometric analysis. A studied hay inclusion influenced linearly negative for weight gain and, in a positive way, feed consumption and feed conversion. Linear reductions without absolute carcass and breast weight, carcass yield and our liver and gizzard weights were also observed. Quadratic effect was observed for absolute weight of dorsum, liver and fat, yield of dorsum and villus height. The inclusion of Tifton 85 hay in the broiler ration of lower potential for growth from 42 to 72 days of age resulted in worsening performance and carcass yield. The use of hay was effective as a measure of qualitative restriction Summary chapter 2 The qualitative food restriction consists in the dilution of the diets, by means of the inclusion of ingredients with low nutritional value, usually, rich in fibers to reduce the amount of nutrients absorbed. The aim of this study was to evaluate rations with different inclusion levels of ground Tifton 85 hay in rations at the proportions of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%. A total of 288 male Red Bro-plum? commercial broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design in 4 treatments and 4 replicates of 18 broilers per treatment. The broilers received the experimental rations from 42 to 72 days of age. At 73 days all broilers were slaughtered for carcass analysis, and intestine samples from 8 broilers were collected per replicate for morphological and intestinal morphometric analysis. Increasing the inclusion values of dietary hay influenced linearly performance of broilers, with the decrease in weight gain, increase in feed consumption and impacting negatively in feed conversion values. Likewise, elevating the addition of hay in the ration showed linear reductions in absolute weight, carcass yield, and linear increases in the relative weights of liver and gizzard. The inclusion of Tifton 85 hay in broiler ration of lower potential for growth from 42 to 72 days of age affected negatively performance and carcass yield. The use of hay was effective as a measure of qualitative restriction of the ration if there is intention to control the growth of broilers according to a certain slaughter age / Resumo Cap?tulo 1 A lisina ? um amino?cido essencial utilizado como refer?ncia nas formula??es de dietas com base no conceito de prote?na ideal, sendo a lisina um dos principais nutrientes envolvidos no desenvolvimento das aves. A maioria das pesquisas relacionadas a exig?ncia de lisina para frangos de corte s?o realizadas com frangos de linhagens convencionais, no entanto para frangos de corte de menor potencial gen?tico para crescimento as refer?ncias s?o escassas e por vezes bastante divergentes. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as exig?ncias em lisina digest?vel para frangos de corte machos de menor potencial gen?tico para crescimento. Foram utilizados 520 frangos de corte, machos, da linhagem comercial RedBro-plum? (Caipira Franc?s Vermelho Escuro), de 42 a 72 dias de idade e abatidos aos 73 dias de idade. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado (DIC), sendo cinco tratamentos e quatro repeti??es por tratamento, totalizando 20 unidades experimentais de 26 aves cada. Os tratamentos foram constitu?dos com valores crescentes de lisina digest?vel obtidos a partir da adi??o de L-Lisina HCl ? dieta basal, em substitui??o ao ingrediente amido de milho, sendo 0,689, 0,842, 0,995, 1,148 e 1,301% de lisina digest?vel. Em par?metros de desempenho foi observada regress?o linear negativa para convers?o alimentar e efici?ncia da utiliza??o de lisina e linear positiva para consumo de lisina, de acordo com o aumento nos valores de lisina digest?vel na ra??o. Tal efeito pode ter sido influenciado pela necessidade dos frangos em aumentar o consumo de ra??o nos tratamentos iniciais, para suprir o aporte limitante de lisina na ra??o. Para as caracter?sticas de carca?a foi verificado regress?o linear negativa nos pesos absolutos de carca?a, peito, asa, coxa + sobrecoxa e cora??o e efeito quadr?tico para peso absoluto de gordura, rendimento de dorso e peso relativo de gordura com o aumento nos valores de lisina digest?vel. O menor valor em lisina digest?vel na ra??o, 0,689%, foi suficiente para determinar resultados adequados de desempenho e caracter?sticas de carca?a. Entretanto, para propiciar menor deposi??o de gordura abdominal o valor de 1,05 % de lisina digest?vel na ra??o pode ser considerado o valor de exig?ncia para os frangos machos de crescimento lento na fase de 42 a 72 dias de idade. Resumo cap?tulo 2 A restri??o alimentar qualitativa consiste na dilui??o das dietas, por meio da inclus?o de ingredientes com baixo valor nutricional, normalmente ricos em fibras, a fim de reduzir a quantidade de nutrientes absorvidos. O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar ra??es com diferentes n?veis de inclus?o de feno de Tifton 85 mo?do na ra??o, nas propor??es de 0, 5, 10 e 15 %. Foram utilizados 288 frangos de corte de crescimento lento, machos, da linhagem comercial RedBro-plum? (Caipira Franc?s Vermelho Escuro), distribu?das em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em 4 tratamentos e 4 repeti??es de 18 aves por tratamento. As aves receberam as ra??es experimentais dos 42 aos 72 dias de idade. Aos 73 dias foram abatidos todos os frangos para analise de carca?a e foram realizadas coletas de intestino em 8 frangos por repeti??o para a an?lise morfol?gica e morfom?trica intestinal. Os aumentos nos valores de inclus?o de feno estudados na dieta influenciaram de forma linear o desempenho dos frangos, com diminui??o no ganho de peso, aumento no consumo de ra??o, no consumo de fibra bruta e piora nos valores de convers?o alimentar e aumento. Foram observadas ainda, com o aumento de adi??o de feno na ra??o, redu??es lineares no peso absoluto e no rendimento de carca?a e aumentos lineares nos pesos relativos do f?gado e da moela. A avalia??o da morfometria intestinal demonstrou que houve efeito quadr?tico na altura de vilosidade. A an?lise econ?mica demonstrou efeito linear decrescente para o ?ndice de rentabilidade. A inclus?o de feno de Tifton 85 na ra??o de frangos de corte de menor potencial de crescimento no per?odo de 42 a 72 dias de idade resultou na piora dos resultados de desempenho, rendimento de carca?a e analise econ?mica. A utiliza??o do feno foi eficaz como medida de restri??o qualitativa da ra??o se houver inten??o de controle do crescimento do frango em fun??o de uma determinada idade de abate

ABSTRACT A key feature of Canada’s urban system is the uneven distribution of population and economic growth. The 2011 Census showed that in the past five years more than 80% of the country’s growth was concentrated in the 10 largest Canadian Metropolitan Areas. As a result, more than 33% of Canada’s population centres lost population while another 27% experienced slow growth. Despite affecting a third of the country’s communities, population loss was concentrated primarily in remote communities with a population of less than 10,000. To better understand the processes and effects of slow growth and shrinkage in Canada this research was guided by three questions: • How do planners, economic developers and local officials define slow growth, decline and shrinkage? • What factors cause a community to implement growth appropriate planning tools and strategies and; • What components should be part of growth appropriate planning and economic development strategies? These questions were addressed using a qualitative survey which was answered by 70 participants in 51 communities. Overall there was little variance in how respondents defined decline and shrinkage. Given their stigma, each term was primarily associated with population loss, vacant structures and a variety of problems including financial stress and the loss of employment opportunities. When asked approximately 80% of Canadian communities used at least one progressive planning tool or strategy. The implementation of these tools was largely in response to the effects of slow growth and shrinkage as well as future economic outlook, support from local actors (municipal staff and officials, residents, local businesses) and senior governments. Few communities however used these tools to acknowledge or explicitly deal with their slow growth or shrinkage as it was feared that accepting either trend would scare away future investment. Almost all of the research participants agreed that areas of slow growth and population loss required different planning strategies than those experiencing rapid growth. These strategies included altering existing strategies to meet local needs and or creating entirely new planning tools and strategies, collaborating with other professionals, amending existing or creating new roles for planners, leverage local resources for community improvements and using an approach which equally addresses a community physical, economic, environmental and social needs. In addition, respondents noted that more research was required on how to plan in growth challenged areas and in particular, small rural communities.

ABSTRACT A key feature of Canada’s urban system is the uneven distribution of population and economic growth. The 2011 Census showed that in the past five years more than 80% of the country’s growth was concentrated in the 10 largest Canadian Metropolitan Areas. As a result, more than 33% of Canada’s population centres lost population while another 27% experienced slow growth. Despite affecting a third of the country’s communities, population loss was concentrated primarily in remote communities with a population of less than 10,000. To better understand the processes and effects of slow growth and shrinkage in Canada this research was guided by three questions: • How do planners, economic developers and local officials define slow growth, decline and shrinkage? • What factors cause a community to implement growth appropriate planning tools and strategies and; • What components should be part of growth appropriate planning and economic development strategies? These questions were addressed using a qualitative survey which was answered by 70 participants in 51 communities. Overall there was little variance in how respondents defined decline and shrinkage. Given their stigma, each term was primarily associated with population loss, vacant structures and a variety of problems including financial stress and the loss of employment opportunities. When asked approximately 80% of Canadian communities used at least one progressive planning tool or strategy. The implementation of these tools was largely in response to the effects of slow growth and shrinkage as well as future economic outlook, support from local actors (municipal staff and officials, residents, local businesses) and senior governments. Few communities however used these tools to acknowledge or explicitly deal with their slow growth or shrinkage as it was feared that accepting either trend would scare away future investment. Almost all of the research participants agreed that areas of slow growth and population loss required different planning strategies than those experiencing rapid growth. These strategies included altering existing strategies to meet local needs and or creating entirely new planning tools and strategies, collaborating with other professionals, amending existing or creating new roles for planners, leverage local resources for community improvements and using an approach which equally addresses a community physical, economic, environmental and social needs. In addition, respondents noted that more research was required on how to plan in growth challenged areas and in particular, small rural communities.

Mangaba tree (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) is a tropical fruit found in different regions of the country, being more abundant in areas of coastal tablelands and lowlands of Northeast region, where it is explored in an extractive way and it is suffering an accelerated process of erosion genetics. The development of methods for conservation of genetic resources still available it is essential. This work aimed at improving technical and scientific in vitro conservation by slow growth of mangaba tree. The work was done at the Laboratory of Plant Tissue Culture of Embrapa Coastal Tablelands. To evaluate the effect of sucrose and sorbitol nodal segments were inoculated in test tubes with 25 mL of MS medium supplemented with 1 mg.L-1 of indol acetic acid (IAA) and 1 mg.L-1 of benzylaminopurine (BAP) and different sorbitol concentrations (10; 20 and 40 g.L-1) combined with 0 and 15 g.L-1 of sucrose. To evaluate the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) and the recipient and sealing types, nodal segments were inoculated in "mayonnaise" flasks and in test tubes with 25 mL of MS medium supplemented with 30 g.L-1 of sucrose, containing 0 or 0.5 mg.L-1 of ABA combined with plastic lid and aluminum foil. To study the effect of the mannitol and cultivation time two mangaba accessions were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with 0; 5; 10; 15 and 20 g.L-1 of mannitol. The proline quantification was done in mangaba microcuttings from conservation medium containing 10 and 20 g.L-1 of sorbitol. In the recovery stage of the growth explants conserved in vitro for 120 days, in the previous experiments were inoculated on MS medium and the viability of crops evaluated at 30 and 60 days. It is feasible to maintain nodal segments in the absence of sucrose in the presence of 10 or 20 g.L-1 of sorbitol and nodal segments in the presence of 0.5 mg.L-1 of ABA in test tubes sealed with aluminum foil lid for 120 days. It is possible the conservation of seedlings germinated in vitro in MS culture medium with 15 and 20 g.L-1 of mannitol for 180 days. Larger proline accumulation is observed in stem than in leaves of mangaba tree. Explants maintained in the presence of 10 g.L-1 of sorbitol and sucrose absence and in the presence of 0.5 mg.L-1 of ABA at conservation present higher viability in the growth recovery. / A mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) é uma frutífera tropical encontrada em diferentes regiões do país, sendo mais abundante em áreas de tabuleiros costeiros e baixadas litorâneas da Região Nordeste, onde é explorada de forma extrativista e vem sofrendo acelerado processo de erosão genética. O desenvolvimento de métodos de conservação dos recursos genéticos ainda disponíveis torna-se imprescindível. Este trabalho teve como objetivo o aprimoramento técnico-científico da conservação in vitro por crescimento lento de mangabeira. Os trabalhos foram desenvolvidos no Laboratório de Cultura de Tecidos de Plantas da Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros. Para avaliar o efeito da sacarose e sorbitol segmentos nodais foram inoculados em tubos de ensaio com 25 mL de meio de cultura MS suplementado com 1 mg.L-1 de ácido indol acético (AIA) e 1 mg.L-1 de benzilaminopurina (BAP) e diferentes concentrações de sorbitol (10; 20 e 40 g.L-1), combinadas com 0 e 15 g.L-1 de sacarose. Para avaliar o efeito do ácido abscísico (ABA), do tipo de recipiente e vedação os segmentos nodais foram inoculados em frascos tipo maionese e em tubos de ensaio com 25 mL de meio MS, suplementado com 30 g.L- 1 de sacarose, contendo 0 ou 0,5 mg.L-1 de ABA combinadas com tampa plástica e tampa de papel alumínio. Para o estudo do efeito do manitol e tempo de cultivo dois acessos de mangabeira foram inoculados em meio MS combinados com 0; 5; 10; 15 e 20 g.L-1 de manitol. Foi realizada a quantificação da prolina em microestacas provenientes de meio de conservação contendo 10 e 20 g.L-1 de sorbitol. Na etapa de recuperação do crescimento explantes conservados in vitro por 120 dias, nos experimentos anteriores foram inoculados em meio de cultura MS sendo a viabilidade das culturas avaliadas aos 30 e 60 dias. É viável a manutenção de segmentos nodais na ausência de sacarose e na presença de 10 ou 20 g.L-1 de sorbitol assim como de segmentos nodais na presença de 0,5 mg.L-1 de ABA em tubos de ensaio vedados com tampa de papel alumínio por 120 dias. É viável a conservação de plântulas germinadas in vitro em meio com 15 e 20 g.L-1 de manitol por 180 dias. Observa-se maior acúmulo de prolina em entre-nós do que em folhas de mangabeira. Explantes mantidos na presença de 10 g.L-1 de sorbitol e na ausência de sacarose e na presença de 0,5 mg.L-1 de ABA na fase de conservação apresentam maior viabilidade na recuperação do crescimento.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-06-26T17:16:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - D?bora Vaccari Quaresma.pdf: 1173077 bytes, checksum: 0e0b9793de160f78b63f62ad79e66290 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-26T17:16:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - D?bora Vaccari Quaresma.pdf: 1173077 bytes, checksum: 0e0b9793de160f78b63f62ad79e66290 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-01 / Two experiments were conducted to determine methionine + cystine requirements. The treatments were determined from the basal diet, which was supplemented with increasing values of 99% DL-methionine as a replacement for corn starch. The following values were studied: 0.531; 0.648; 0.765, 0.882, and 0.999% of digestible methionine + cystine for the growth stage and 0.493, 0.600, 0.707, 0.814, and 0.921% of digestible methionine + cystine for the final stage. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and four replicates of 28 chickens per experimental unit, in a total of 560 chickens in experiment 1 and 24 chickens per experimental unit, in a total of 480 chickens in experiment 2. The responses were studied by means of regression analysis, and the estimates of nutritional requirements were determined, when possible, through the study of the quadratic model. Methionine + cystine requirements were estimated at 0.915% for greater weight gain and 0.990% for better feed conversion in the period from 29 to 56 days of age and at 0.815% for greater weight gain and 0.777% for better feed conversion in the period between 57 and 84 days of age. The results of this experiment showed that there are high nutritional requirements for broilers with lower genetic potential, when expressed as a percentage. This is partly due to lower daily consumption when compared with chickens with higher genetic potential. Given the high economic worth of this product on the market, suitable values can be 0.915% methionine + cystine in the period from 28 to 56 days of age and 0.815% methionine + cystine in the period between 57 and 84 days of age. The ratio methionine + digestible cystine/lysine for maximum performance are 83.49% in the period from 28 to 56 days and 74.36% in the period from 57 to 84 days. / Foram realizados dois experimentos para a determina??o da exig?ncia de metionina + cistina digest?vel, sendo os tratamentos estabelecidos a partir da ra??o basal que foi suplementada com valores crescentes de DL- metionina 99% em substitui??o ao ingrediente amido de milho. Foram estudados os valores de 0,531; 0,648; 0,765; 0,882 e 0,999% de metionina + cistina digest?vel para a fase de crescimento e de 0,493; 0,600; 0,707; 0,814 e 0,921% de metionina + cistina digest?vel para a fase final. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repeti??es de 28 aves por unidade experimental, totalizando 560 aves no experimento 1 e 24 aves por unidade experimenta, totalizando 480 aves no experimento 2. As respostas foram estudadas por meio de an?lise de regress?o, sendo as estimativas de exig?ncias nutricionais estabelecidas, quando poss?vel, atrav?s do estudo do modelo quadr?tico. As exig?ncias de metionina + cistina digest?vel foram estimadas em 0,915% para maior ganho de peso e 0,990% para melhor convers?o alimentar no per?odo de 29 a 56 dias de idade e em 0,815% para melhor ganho de peso e 0,777% para melhor convers?o alimentar no per?odo de 57 a 84 dias de idade. Os resultados do presente experimento evidenciam que as exig?ncias nutricionais de frangos de corte de menor potencial gen?tico, quando expressas em porcentual, s?o elevadas, em parte devido ao menor consumo di?rio quando comparado aos frangos de maior potencial gen?tico. Devido ? grande valoriza??o econ?mica deste produto no mercado podem ser recomendados os valores de 0,915% de metionina + cistina no per?odo de 28 a 56 dias de idade e de 0,815% de metionina + cistina no per?odo de 57 a 84 dias de idade. As rela??es metionina + cistina/lisina digest?vel para m?ximo desempenho s?o de 83,49% no per?odo de 28 a 56 dias e 74,36% no per?odo de 57 a 84 dias.

We grow AB₂ random hyperbranched polymer structures in different ways and using different simulation methods. In particular we use a method of ad hoc construction of the connectivity matrix and the bond fluctuation model on a 3D lattice. We show that hyperbranched polymers split into two universality classes depending on the growth process. For a “slow growth” (SG) process where monomers are added sequentially to an existing molecule which strictly avoids cluster–cluster aggregation the resulting structures share all characteristic features with regular dendrimers. For a “quick growth” (QG) process which allows for cluster–cluster aggregation we obtain structures which can be identified as random fractals. Without excluded volume interactions the SG model displays a logarithmic growth of the radius of gyration with respect to the degree of polymerization while the QG model displays a power law behavior with an exponent of 1/4. By analyzing the spectral properties of the connectivity matrix we confirm the behavior of dendritic structures for the SG model and the corresponding fractal properties in the QG case. A mean field model is developed which explains the extension of the hyperbranched polymers in an athermal solvent for both cases. While the radius of gyration of the QG model shows a power-law behavior with the exponent value close to 4/5, the corresponding result for the SG model is a mixed logarithmic–power-law behavior. These different behaviors are confirmed by simulations using the bond fluctuation model. Our studies indicate that random sequential growth according to our SG model can be an alternative to the synthesis of perfect dendrimers.

Although the development of small businesses is generally considered important for income generation and job creation, there has been relatively little research in developing countries such as Ghana on understanding why some small firms succeed and grow rapidly while others do not in. This thesis investigates the influences on small firm growth rates in Ghana using data from a random sample of 252 manufacturing and services firms from the database of the Association of Ghana Industries. The general hypothesis is that, growth is a function of the characteristics of the entrepreneur; characteristics of the firm; strategic factors; environmental factors; and cultural factors. Consequently, the research tests 36 hypotheses drawn from the five main categories of variables using the turnover and the employment growth measures. It also uses logistic regression analysis to isolate significant factors differentiating rapid-growth firms from slow-growth firms. Overall, the research finds strong evidence which suggests that, perception of a market opportunity; university education; multiple founders; entrepreneurs with marketing skills; workforce training; new product development; presence of a clear vision and mission statement; majority non-family members in management and membership of professional or business associations were associated with rapid-growth firms. iv Factors which were significant in discriminating between rapid-growth and slow-growth firms but were more likely to be associated with slow-growth firms included threat of unemployment or actual unemployment as a motivation for starting a business; production skills; legal form (limited liability companies); access to external equity (post-formation); exporting; access to public or external aid; unionization and frequent management meetings.

Although the development of small businesses is generally considered important for income generation and job creation, there has been relatively little research in developing countries such as Ghana on understanding why some small firms succeed and grow rapidly while others do not in. This thesis investigates the influences on small firm growth rates in Ghana using data from a random sample of 252 manufacturing and services firms from the database of the Association of Ghana Industries. The general hypothesis is that, growth is a function of the characteristics of the entrepreneur; characteristics of the firm; strategic factors; environmental factors; and cultural factors. Consequently, the research tests 36 hypotheses drawn from the five main categories of variables using the turnover and the employment growth measures. It also uses logistic regression analysis to isolate significant factors differentiating rapid-growth firms from slow-growth firms. Overall, the research finds strong evidence which suggests that, perception of a market opportunity; university education; multiple founders; entrepreneurs with marketing skills; workforce training; new product development; presence of a clear vision and mission statement; majority non-family members in management and membership of professional or business associations were associated with rapid-growth firms. iv Factors which were significant in discriminating between rapid-growth and slow-growth firms but were more likely to be associated with slow-growth firms included threat of unemployment or actual unemployment as a motivation for starting a business; production skills; legal form (limited liability companies); access to external equity (post-formation); exporting; access to public or external aid; unionization and frequent management meetings.