Motivation behind alternative growth modes in SMEs: a systematic literature review

The topic of firm growth has received attention from numerous scholars in the entrepreneurship and strategic management research. Yet knowledge about small firm growth remains fragmented and inconclusive. Related studies hold common predispositions which do not equally consider companies of different sizes and the diversity of growth modes. In this systematic literature review we address these shortcomings and present findings on the antecedents of growth mode decisions in small- and medium-sized enterprises. We conduct a systematic analysis of empirical studies to present an integrative framework of the major motives behind internal, external, and hybrid growth modes in small firms. This study is a starting point for further in-depth discussions on small firm growth. We contribute by answering the call for a systematic understanding of firm growth particularly in the context of smaller organizations, and by proposing directions for further research on the topic.