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

In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research in Management and Economics (ICMRME 2025)

Author

Listed:
  • 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))

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Diop & Fatima Ouahraoui & Imane Lissigui & Adnane Assebane, 2025. "The Puzzle of the Three “S”: A Missing Link in Business Growth Strategies?," Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research, in: Ait Oufkir Abdellah & Younes Ben Zaied & Mohamed Charif El Harrane & Lalla Touhfa Belgnaoui (ed.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research in Management and Economics (ICMRME 2025), pages 376-390, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:advbcp:978-94-6463-892-9_22
    DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6463-892-9_22
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