Abstract
Small firm growth is an important topic for education and research, as the majority of new jobs created in most economies come from growing small firms. Additionally, growth is desirable for many individual small firms, as it allows for the achievement of economies of scale, increased brand recognition, and the opportunity for greater financial returns. This paper will discuss a framework for organizational development in terms of three aspects that impact firm growth: (1) Organization Type, (2) Company Domain, and (3) Long-Term Survival Strategy. Decisions regarding these three aspects dictate how a firm utilizes personnel, planning, and goal-setting to achieve growth, the customer base that the firm will pursue, and the internal operations that the firm will follow. Research on these aspects has demonstrated their applicability to small firms and this framework has been successfully used to guide strategic decision making and growth.