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This paper describes the development of strategic alliance research as it relates to successful outcomes and interorganizational growth. According to the author, the link between growth and individual orientations, key decision leaders' attitudes, environmental factors and public policy has been established by analyzing the Strategic Alliance Research Group (SARG) data sets. The SARG project is an informal alliance of researchers in several countries, nine of which are featured in this paper. The author uses a combination of reviews of significant articles and empirical findings from the SARG project to explore the current situation and to identify research opportunities. The author uses micro level research but supplements it with a macro level view of industry-wide and regional alliances that facilitate the growth of small and medium-sized firms.

This paper argues that firm growth studies need to be longitudinal and turns to the conceptualization of the firm as the unit of analysis in growth studies. The authors explore theoretical perspectives and explain how these correspond with different conceptualizations of the firm. The authors also turn to operationalization issues--the choice of growth indicators, ways to model growth trajectories, and the distinction between organic and acquired growth. Furthermore, the authors discuss three alternative micro-level units of analysis: (1) an individual's or group of individuals' entire business activities, (2) a certain business activity or set of related business activities or (3) a governance structure.

The article offers information on the role of business planning for the development of business establishments. It notes the relevance of such planning for the betterment of the operations. In addition, it notes the business planning's role in obtaining financial services for the company's operational cost. Furthermore, the methods for effective planning in businesses, are also mentioned.