Emerging trends in roadmapping research: A bibliometric literature review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Roadmapping practice and research have evolved together over the past three decades, in response to the changing application context, such as the emergence of cutting-edge technologies and rapid social changes. The widespread adoption and adaptation of (technology) roadmapping has been enabled by its simplicity, flexibility and usefulness, reflected in a surge in the volume of literature on roadmapping. A limited number of literature reviews have been conducted, mostly using qualitative and micro-oriented approaches. This paper, however, deploys a quantitative and macro-oriented approach to provide an objective and comprehensive view of the literature by following DNCT procedures, consisting of citation network and text mining analysis. This paper identifies contributing authors, journals and countries, sets out key research themes, and highlights significant developments in roadmapping practice and theory, with reference to previous studies. Results have proven that roadmapping has become an established research topic. 10 clusters of research streams are detected: General Concept & Scenario; Technology Management Tool; Implementation in National and Industrial Levels; Fundamental Research; Implementation in Organisational Level; Innovation Planning; Strategic Planning Synchronisation; Strategic Foresight; Industrial Emergence; and Design & Visualisation. In addition, an academic landscape of the field is graphically illustrated, and potential avenues for future research are suggested.