The field of resource-based view research: mapping past, present and future trends

Purpose This study sought to develop an aggregated assessment of the literature on the resource-based view (RBV). The main aim was to map the RBV field based on a systematic literature review (SLR) of 226 academic articles published in refereed journals from 1994 to 2022. Design/methodology/approach Two bibliometric analysis methods were used: bibliographic coupling and co-citation. These measures are complementary because bibliographic coupling is retrospective in nature and co-citation is forward-looking. Findings The analysis identified the most influential studies, top-cited articles and journals and six major thematic clusters: RBV , customer orientation and alliance portfolio , resource-based theory , firm performance , entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and dynamic capabilities . Originality/value This research was based on a combination of bibliographic coupling and co-citation analysis. The results provide a better understanding of the RBV field’s intellectual structure, which reveals potential new lines of future research.