How do growth characteristics vary depending on the waves of change an organization experiences?

Within each social change wave were attributes unique to the timeframe. Businesses in each change wave viewed and reacted to these social change waves accordingly. For instance in the industrial change wave, businesses looked at lowest cost production methods, continually driving costs down to increase profits. In the knowledge change wave businesses accumulated information almost needlessly. Finally in the judgment wave, businesses are trying to make sense of the environment (internally and externally) and trying to the best thing based on morals and taking the betterment of the world into consideration.

Since the growth stage involves determining a business direction, metrics of measurement and controls, I can easily understand why the change waves of an organization would influence the growth process. Each wave will impact the growth strategy differently owing to each perspective and outlook. The industrial wave organization would examine the growth strategy from the perspective of lowest cost alternatives while the judgment wave organization will strive to first make the right choice of the growth plan to decide if it fit with the company, community moral and ethical outlines.

Have you experienced growth in your current or other employment? What factors led you to believe you did or did not experience growth?

I was part of a team charged with introducing a new product to the market. This product was targeted to an existing market area we already sold into, but the attributes of this new product were greater than anything else at the time. So we put together our strategic product plan, laid the groundwork and launched the product. During the first year we focused activities toward getting the product information out, but after the first year we exhausted our budgets and just set the product on the normal course as other products; typical advertising, trade show activities, etc. But over the next couple of years it was interesting (and rewarding) to watch sales increase. As they did I interacted more with our operational group to maintain proper inventory levels, and product mix. Additional resources were allocated to support the growth initiative. More training for sales groups, additional monies for brochures and website exposures and an additional strategic alliance to add an additional channel.
The fact we watched sales increase over a period of time, needed additional resources, the effect on different functional units lead me to the conclusion we experienced growth.

What personal skills would you need to improve upon to be successful in your endeavors?

Interesting question: the first skill which comes to mind is the ability to make faster decisions. As a trained engineer I look for as much data as possible, turn it inside out, chart and model before coming to a decision. I’ve learned by experience the business world just doesn’t allow time for this type of behavior. I have to train myself to determine the importance of each decision, collect all the data possible in the shortest amount of time and then decide and move on.
Other personal skills include delegation of control. I can delegate but I find myself checking and following up on delegated activities more than I need to. I have to develop trust. This will come from surrounding me with competent people who I don’t have to worry about. In my job today I would with what I often term “B” players. People I don’t have control over and I must work with as a condition of my employment.
I feel I have the organizational skills and the selling and promotional skills needed in business.