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A Call for Research on the Scaling of Organizations and the Scaling of Social Impact

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  • Dean A. Shepherd
  • Holger Patzelt

Abstract

Although scaling is a “hot topic†in the practitioner literature, it has largely been ignored (at least explicitly) in the academic literature. This editorial highlights the importance of organizational scaling, which we define as “spreading excellence within an organization as it grows.†Specifically, the entrepreneurship field would benefit greatly from future studies that explain how knowledge management facilitates scaling; how scaling is influenced by founder replacement; and how current scaling influences the drivers of subsequent scaling. We eventually link the scaling of organizations to the scaling of social impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Dean A. Shepherd & Holger Patzelt, 2022. "A Call for Research on the Scaling of Organizations and the Scaling of Social Impact," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(2), pages 255-268, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:46:y:2022:i:2:p:255-268
    DOI: 10.1177/1042258720950599
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    2. Bohan, Sarah & Tippmann, Esther & Levie, Jonathan & Igoe, Josephine & Bowers, Blake, 2024. "What is scaling?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 39(1).
    3. Somaya, Deepak & You, Jingya, 2024. "Scalability, venture capital availability, and unicorns: Evidence from the valuation and timing of IPOs," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 39(1).
    4. Gartner, Johannes & Moro, Andrea, 2024. "C-level managers and born-digitals' scaling: The case of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    5. Audretsch, David B. & Belitski, Maksim & Theodoraki, Christina, 2024. "Micro and macro factors of firm scaling," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    6. Anokhin, Sergey & Eggers, Fabian, 2023. "Social venture scaling: Does the technological environment matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    7. Fisher, Greg & Josefy, Matthew A. & Neubert, Emily, 2024. "Event-based entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 39(1).
    8. Van Lancker, Evy & Knockaert, Mirjam & Collewaert, Veroniek & Breugst, Nicola, 2023. "Preparing for scaling: A study on founder role evolution," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 38(4).
    9. Sanasi, Silvia & Ghezzi, Antonio & Cavallo, Angelo, 2023. "What happens after market validation? Experimentation for scaling in technology-based startups," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    10. Rawhouser, Hans & Webb, Justin W. & Rodrigues, Jason & Waldron, Theodore L. & Kumaraswamy, Arun & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Grady, Azucena, 2022. "“Scaling, blockchain technology, and entrepreneurial opportunities in developing countries”," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 18(C).
    11. Delmar, Frédéric & Wallin, Jonas & Nofal, Ahmed Maged, 2022. "Modeling new-firm growth and survival with panel data using event magnitude regression," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(5).
    12. Silvia Sanasi, 2023. "Entrepreneurial experimentation in business model dynamics: Current understanding and future opportunities," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 805-836, June.
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    14. Tippmann, Esther & Ambos, Tina C. & Del Giudice, Manlio & Monaghan, Sinéad & Ringov, Dimo, 2023. "Scale-ups and scaling in an international business context," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(1).

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