characteristic of an organization during the organizational life cycle

Part 1

What is the most significant characteristic of an organization during the organizational life cycle? How might an organization know when they have moved from one cycle to the next?

Part 2

Discuss the Dell, Inc. scenario. In what stage is the company currently? Is the movement to return to the company’s “entrepreneurial roots” by affording divisions a level of autonomy similar to start-up companies a wise move? Why or why not?

Scholarly References Required! No secondary references (i.e. textbooks or google books allowed at PHD level!)