Bridging the Gap between Organization Theory and thePractice of Managing Growth: The Dynamic System Planning Model

For several decades researchers have attempted to explain the process of organization growth and development. The various models devised can be divided into roughly two categories: those which emphasize nature, and those emphasizing nurture as the cause for change. The Dynamic System Planning Model is described, which borrows from both traditions, in particular from open systems theory and from the individual learning models. Issues outlined in this model are the frequently mentioned concerns of presidents of small changing firms. Although based in open system theory, it translates readily into practical application in day‐to‐day management, as interviews with presidents attest.