The thesis aims at contributing to clarify broad conjectures on growth, such as, (i) the extent to which growth constitutes an imperative for the firm, and (ii) what leads some firms to enjoy continuing growth and a continued existence, while others, after experiencing continuing growth, end up contracting and decaying. As a result, the thesis seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the mechanisms fostering and precluding growth, while also identifying challenges and opportunities in managing growth. / The thesis comprises four interrelated essays: (i) Chandler on the growth of the firm---this essay scrutinizes The Visible Hand (Chandler, 1977) seeking to answer the question "What is Chandler's theory on how and why did the modern business enterprise (MBE) appear and grow?" Four processes are identified---MBE formation, MBE development, industry formation, industry development. Their analysis within a process-oriented view (Mohr, 1982) discloses chains of necessary conditions in growth-related processes. Moreover, two growth-related dilemmas are advanced and the firm-industry co-evolution is explored. (ii) Identifying the building blocks of growth dynamics---this essay addresses the question "Which are the basic processes of change that form the dynamics of growth?" Drawing on Mario Bunge's philosophy (1973--1989; 1979), a framework of qualitatively different modes of change is derived. The framework allows the identification of elementary units of the growth dynamics. These comprise the following types: quantitative, qualitative (dialectical), goal-directed, interactional, causal, structural, random. In addition, complex units of growth dynamics made up of combinations of elementary units are also advanced: evolutionary motor of firm growth, co-evolutionary motor of growth relating firm and industry, and different instances of continuing growth motors. (iii) Describing growth trajectories of firms---the question "How can growth trajectories be represented?" is addressed in this essay. An indicator of size, which automatically adjusts for inflationary and deflationary changes in currency value is proposed. This indicator enables the drawing of growth trajectories of firms in the economy over long periods of time. (iv) Growth trajectories of General Electric and Westinghouse: a comparative study---this essay addresses the question "Why do some firms experience continuing growth and continued existence while others decay and disappear?" The growth trajectories of
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.37891 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Fleck, Denise L. |
| Contributors | Mintzberg, Henry (advisor), Jorgensen, Jan (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Faculty of Management.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001845447, proquestno: NQ75632, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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