A systematic review of studies on the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, focusing on entrepreneurial opportunities

MohebbiAmirhoseini, Ali; Mohammadkazemi, Reza; Talebi, Kambiz

doi:100/jiams.2025.8947.7807

A systematic review of studies on the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, focusing on entrepreneurial opportunities

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Ali MohebbiAmirhoseini ¹

reza mohammadkazemi ²

kambiz talebi ²

¹ student of the Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran

² Faculty of entrepreneurship / new business

100/jiams.2025.8947.7807

Abstract

The growth of small and medium-sized enterprises is one of the most important research topics in management and entrepreneurship. Despite the importance of this issue, numerous studies continue to emphasize the need for a process framework for company growth and knowledge accumulation in this field. In this regard, articles in the field of company growth were reviewed with the concept of entrepreneurial opportunity as the focus. To select documents, a systematic search method was used between 2000 and 2023 and the Scopus, Web of Science, and internal databases. 74 documents were selected for analysis. In the analysis section, using the meta-synthesis method and qualitative approach, the selected studies were classified into four categories: "growth ideas and their antecedents, the process of converting an idea into a venture concept and business model and value proposition, evaluation and exploitation of company growth opportunities, and the internal and external environment of company growth." A process framework with the focus on opportunity for company growth was presented as a theoretical contribution to the research and suggestions were made for managers of small and medium-sized enterprises and researchers.

Keywords

Growth

small and medium-sized enterprises

opportunity

idea

process

Subjects