“Whereas in the adolescent phase you’re still looking for ways to let go of things, in this phase it’s all about seeing and seizing improvement opportunities that help you achieve your goals without losing your identity.”

Erry de Boer, CEO Eqeep

In our previous blogs on the Greiner model, we explored the first steps in growing an organization. We saw how the start-up phase is about establishing a solid foundation, the rollercoaster phase is about balancing between structure and growth, and the adolescent phase is about building trust and good collaboration. Now it’s time to explore the fourth step: the scale-up phase. This is where the focus is on growth, coordination and agility, without losing your core values.

The challenge of coordination in a growing organization

In the scale-up phase, your organization grows not only in size, but also in complexity. The number of employees soon goes toward a hundred. Your teams get bigger, projects run in parallel, and new customers, markets, and possibly even international operations are added. It’s a step forward in which you realize that informal processes and ad hoc decisions are no longer sufficient. The challenge? How do you maintain the agility and innovative nature of your organization while adding structure to the chaos that growth brings?

Staying agile while growing

One of the biggest risks during this period is the emergence of bureaucracy. Tight processes can lead to delays and frustration. Lack of structure creates inefficiencies and mistakes. The trick is to find a balance:

• Streamline your processes, but make sure they remain flexible 
• Encourage innovation, even within structured frameworks
• Use scalable technology to support growth without stifling your organization

Technology as the driver of scalability

In the scale-up phase, technology is a very important tool to make growth manageable. Automation plays a key role in this: by automating routine tasks, such as order processing, inventory management and reporting, you will keep more time for strategic thinking. An integrated platform can help you streamline your finances, improve customer relationships and monitor key KPIs.

By standardizing processes and providing real-time insights, you make faster, data-driven decisions. Plus, scalable technology keeps your organization flexible. Whether you’re launching a new product, setting up a new team or entering a new market, your systems grow with you without having to reinvest in new tools or infrastructure.

Collaboration within and between teams

During this time, it is important to break down any silos within your organization. Teams need to collaborate and share information to keep projects running smoothly. Digital collaboration platforms, such as NetSuite SuiteSuccess Starter, whether or not combined with a platform like Microsoft Teams, can help increase transparency and improve communication. Regular check-ins and clear roles and responsibilities keep everyone on the same page. Collaboration is important not only within teams, but also between different departments. Marketing, sales, operations and finance must work together like a well-oiled machine to facilitate growth.

“Too big for the napkin, too small for the tablecloth, exactly the phase we are coming out of. The perfect time to say goodbye to old processes and systems, and optimize your ERP environment. With us, this has not only brought peace and efficiency to the organization, but also visibly more job satisfaction.”

Erry de Boer, CEO Eqeep

Leadership: continuing to see the bigger picture

As a leader in the scale-up phase, you must rise above the day-to-day operations. Focus on the bigger picture and be a connecting factor between teams and departments. Provide a clear vision that everyone understands and is willing to commit to. Be visible and accessible so your people know they can count on you. And don’t forget to celebrate successes, no matter how small. This motivates your employees and strengthens the culture of collaboration and growth.

Want to know more?

Curious about the other growth phases? In the next blog, we’ll explore the flow phase, which is all about collaboration and strategic growth. Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page or follow Erry de Boer’s LinkedIn page so you don’t miss a thing. Want to take steps now to streamline your growth? Check out this page and find out how NetSuite SuiteSuccess Starter and Eqeep’s expertise will help you build a solid foundation ready for growth. Need a quick sparring session? Get in touch.