The Puzzle of the Three “S”: A Missing Link in Business Growth Strategies?

Sara Diop (), Fatima Ouahraoui, Imane Lissigui and Adnane Assebane
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Sara Diop: Ibn Zohr University, Research Laboratory in Digital Management, Innovation, and Logistics (MADILOG), National School of Business and Management (ENCG)
Fatima Ouahraoui: Ibn Zohr University, Research Laboratory in Digital Management, Innovation, and Logistics (MADILOG), National School of Business and Management (ENCG)
Imane Lissigui: Ibn Zohr University, Research Laboratory in Digital Management, Innovation, and Logistics (MADILOG), National School of Business and Management (ENCG)
Adnane Assebane: Ibn Zohr University, Research Laboratory in Digital Management, Innovation, and Logistics (MADILOG), National School of Business and Management (ENCG)

A chapter in Proceedings of the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research in Management and Economics (ICMRME 2025), 2025, pp 376-390 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract In the evolving landscape of organizational growth, the concepts of scaling, scalability, and scale-up are increasingly used across entrepreneurship, management, and innovation literature. However, their meanings remain fragmented and inconsistently applied, limiting theoretical development and strategic alignment. This study addresses this gap by conducting a systematic literature review using the SPAR-4-SLR protocol, analyzing 21 peer-reviewed articles sourced from the Scopus database. The objective is to examine how these three constructs interact to shape organizational growth strategies. Findings reveal that scalability functions as a latent capability embedded in an organization’s digital infrastructure and managerial readiness; scaling is a strategic process of structured expansion; and scale-up represents a distinct phase characterized by institutional maturity and performance thresholds. The results further identify sector-specific enablers and inhibitors, as well as contextual misalignments that can compromise sustainable growth. By integrating conceptual clarity with empirical insights, this study offers a unified framework that advances theory and supports practitioners in designing context-sensitive, capability-aligned growth trajectories.

Keywords: Scaling; Scalability; Scale-up; Organizational Growth; startup ecosystem; Entrepreneurship (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6463-892-9_22

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