Organizational growth: A study of the practical relationship between context, organizational capabilities, and leadership

ABSTRACT Purpose: To explore a process of organizational growth, considering different intervening factors: the institutional context, capabilities, and roles leaders. Originality/value: From literature point view, study contributes by explaining practical linking pressures (regulatory, normative, cognitive) that led to growth when combined with dispositions better leadership preparation face challenges. For practice purposes, it highlights importance alignment between leaders effect training they respond expectations context. Design/methodology/approach: A case singular credit cooperatives affiliated Central Sicredi PR/SP/RJ was carried out in which practices were analyzed according interpretations those involved. Documents collected, 24 executives from three levels ten interviewed. An inductive content analysis performed, themes cataloged their recurrence. Findings: dynamic explanation emerged contextual pressure acted as catalyst for transformation through learning evolution interaction upper middle management more agile decision-making process. It also generated innovations optimized delivery value, expected market, customers, society general. Assertive responsive developed competencies differentiated growth.