Bibliometric Mapping of Green Management: Analyzing Knowledge Structure, Emerging Trends, and Research Gaps

Document Type : Original Article (Qualitative)

Author

PhD in Public Administration, Faculty of Management, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/jvcbm.2026.597884.1822
Abstract
This study aims to map the comprehensive knowledge structure, analyze conceptual evolution, and identify influential sources, emerging themes, and research gaps in the field of green management using a bibliometric approach. The study was conducted by analyzing data extracted from two reputable databases, Web of Science and Scopus, between 1970 and 2026. The final corpus consists of 1,428 scientific documents, which were analyzed using the “bibliometrix” package in R software. The findings indicate that the field of green management is a dynamic and growing area, with an annual growth rate of 8.76% and an average of 31.06 citations per document. Furthermore, fitting a logistic growth model to the cumulative data, with a high coefficient of determination, estimates the theoretical saturation point of this field at approximately 3,590 documents, indicating that this literature is currently in a phase of accelerated growth. However, the continuation of this trajectory depends on the stabilization of policy and technological trends. It was further determined that the literature in this field is organized around two main axes: the level of analysis (from the firm to macro development) and the mechanism of impact (from innovation to leadership and human behavior). The conclusion suggests that green management is on the verge of entering a new era; however, it faces significant research gaps, including a disconnect between levels of analysis, weak theoretical linkages, and a need for conceptual refinement. The findings of this study can provide a roadmap for guiding future research and developing integrated, multi-level frameworks

Keywords

Subjects


Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 28 October 2026

  • Receive Date 18 August 2026
  • Revise Date 26 October 2026
  • Accept Date 28 October 2026