ABSTRACT
Just about every enterprise grows or is focused on growth. This growth is subdivided by Greiner into five phases (1 to 5). Keuring added four more phases (6 to 9). This is how the model with nine phases that are gradually gone through during the growth of an enterprise arose. The growth model has the following nine phases: creativity, direction, delegation, coordination, collaboration, professionalisation and deregulation, integrated human and environmental policy, growth through cooperative strategy in an external network structure, and reintegration into an internal network structure. By closely watching the symptoms of the different phases, it can be recognised when a crisis is threatening and action must be undertaken. If no action is undertaken, then managers will function insufficiently. Employees will become dissatisfied and the chance that they will leave is then very great. Customers notice the internal problems of the enterprise and place fewer and fewer orders.
