To increase the size, scope, or capacity of an operation, process, or system to handle greater volume or reach larger markets.
Borrowed from engineering and manufacturing, where 'scaling up' meant increasing production from prototype or pilot levels to full commercial operation. The phrase gained broader business usage in the 1990s-2000s, particularly in technology and startup contexts where rapid growth is often the primary objective.
Scale up perfectly captures the modern business obsession with growth - the assumption that bigger is better and that successful concepts should be expanded rapidly. However, many organizations discover that scaling up isn't just about doing more of the same; it often requires fundamental changes in structure, culture, and processes that weren't anticipated.
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