Guidelines for Bibliometric‐Systematic Literature Reviews: 10 steps to combine analysis, synthesis and theory development

Marzi, Giacomo; Balzano, Marco; Caputo, Andrea; Pellegrini, Massimiliano M.

Guidelines for Bibliometric‐Systematic Literature Reviews: 10 steps to combine analysis, synthesis and theory development

Marzi, Giacomo, Balzano, Marco, Caputo, Andrea ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2498-182X and Pellegrini, Massimiliano M. (2025) Guidelines for Bibliometric‐Systematic Literature Reviews: 10 steps to combine analysis, synthesis and theory development. International Journal of Management Reviews, 27. pp. 81-103.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12381

Abstract

The steady increase in academic production has been paralleled by a surge in the number of bibliometric and systematic literature reviews (SLRs) published. Over the years, scholars began to combine bibliometric analyses with SLRs. However, such combined approaches relied on fragmented methodological suggestions without clear guiding frameworks. This article introduces integrated guidelines for undertaking multi-method literature reviews, combining bibliometric analyses with SLRs and theory development, which we call ‘Bibliometric-Systematic Literature Review’ (B-SLR). In doing so, we develop a 10-step process on how to apply the B-SLR. In each of the proposed steps, we discuss critical decisions and best practices to support researchers while crafting meaningful and theoretically relevant literature reviews. The B-SLR is intended as a flexible toolbox designed to accommodate diverse research objectives in the miner–prospector continuum, spanning from reviewing, theorising, tracing future roadmaps or creating bridges among different topics. The B-SLR incorporates the pillars of critical analysis, timeliness, coverage, rigour, coherence and originality of contribution, also emphasising the need for a novel and relevant theoretical contribution. The B-SLR is supported by a companion website, providing additional resources to assist researchers in this 10-step process: https://www.b-slr.org.