Organizational Life Cycle Scale (Lester et al., 2003)

Rate the following statements based on a scale of 1 to 5

(1) strongly disagree

(2) disagree

(3) neutral

(4) agree

(5) strongly agree

1. Our organization is small, both in size and relative to our competitors.  
2. As a firm, we are larger than most of our competitors but not as large as we could be.  
3. We are a widely dispersed organization with a board of directors and shareholders.  
4. The seat of power in our firm is primarily in the hands of the founder.  
5. Power in our firm is spread among several owners/investors.  
6. Power in our firm is concentrated in our vast number of shareholders.  
7. Our firm's organizational structure could best be described as simple.  
8. Our structure is department-based and functional, becoming much more formal.  
9. Structure in our firm is divisional or matrix in nature, with highly sophisticated control systems.  
10. Our structure is centralized with few control systems.  
11. In our organization, we have some specializations (accountants and possibly engineers, e.g.), and we are becoming somewhat differentiated.  
12. Information processing could best be described as simple, mostly word-of-mouth.  
13. Information processing best describes monitoring performance and facilitating communication between departments.  
14. Information processing is sophisticated and necessary for efficient production and earning adequate profits.  
15. Information processing is very complex, used to coordinate diverse activities to serve markets better.  
16. Information processing is not very sophisticated but badly needed.  
17. Decision-making is centralized at the top of the organization and is considered to be not very complex.  
18. Most decisions in our firm are made by a group of managers who utilize some systematic analyses but who are still fairly bold.  
19. Most decisions in our firm are made by managers, task forces, and project teams trying to facilitate growth through participation.  
20. Most decisions in our firm are made by a few managers who take a conservative, internally political approach.