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RESULTS

Bivariate Analysis

The purpose of the bivariate analysis is to find out if growth willingness and expected consequences of growth vary depending on the contingencies industry, size bracket and age. The first contingency to be entered is size.

The results of the analysis are displayed in Table 2. The findings are very consistent. Firms in all size brackets are more positive than negative to both moderate and substantial growth (means are on the positive side of the neutral value 4). They have a more positive attitude towards moderate growth than substantial growth suggesting that albeit positive to growth, their growth willingness is rather moderate. Larger firms show more growth willingness and expect more positive consequences of growth than small firms. This contradicts previous results concerning actual growth but supports the findings from one of the few studies concerned with determinants of growth intentions (Hakim, 1989). While significant, all differences must be regarded as small. The important finding is the global difference between the groups.

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