Final answer:
The toughest decisions in business growth are made during the d) maturity stage, where innovation and strategy are crucial for maintaining competitiveness. Human population growth follows an exponential pattern.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the textbook, the toughest decisions regarding business growth are made in the maturity stage of the organizational life cycle. This stage is characterized by a slowdown in growth as the market becomes saturated, and innovation is necessary to maintain market share and stay competitive. It's a critical time for strategic decision making, as companies need to consider diversification, investment in new technologies, restructuring, or finding new markets to sustain their business.
In regards to human population growth, based on the interactive view from the provided reference, human population growth can be described as exponential growth. This growth pattern is characterized by the rate of growth increasing over time — in other words, the population grows faster as it becomes larger.