A quantitative content analysis of the characteristics of rapid-growth firms and their founders

This study adds to the literature through a quantitative content analysis of the narrative descriptions of 50 rapid-growth firms and a comparison group of 50 slow-growth companies. The purpose of the study was to draw from the narratives a list of empirically grounded growth-related attributes that are associated with rapid-growth firms. The findings of the study resulted in the advancement of a conceptual model of the attributes of rapid-growth firms in four areas: founder characteristics, firm attributes, business practices, and human resource management (HRM) practices.