Future Research Agenda Research Articles

Financial and corporate governance determinants of dividend policy in family firms: A bibliometric analysis and future research agenda

This study conducts a systematic literature review of 63 peer-reviewed articles published between January 2008 and December 2023, sourced from the Scopus database, to examine the key determinants shaping dividend policies in family firms. The analysis reveals that financial factors, particularly profitability, leverage, and growth opportunities, serve as primary drivers of dividend decisions. In addition to these, non-financial determinants related to corporate governance, such as board independence, CEO duality, gender diversity, and board size, significantly influence dividend policy by mitigating agency conflicts and aligning the interests of controlling and minority shareholders. By integrating both financial and non-financial perspectives, the study offers a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted mechanisms that govern dividend strategies in family-owned enterprises. Furthermore, a bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer and RStudio to visualize the intellectual structure of the field, identify emerging research trends, and map scholarly collaborations. The findings provide critical insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to strengthen governance frameworks and enhance financial decision-making within family business contexts.

Green debt: a systematic literature review and future research agenda

Abstract The green debt market has become a key financing tool for (environmental) sustainability efforts. While existing reviews cover green bonds and loans, a comprehensive study that also includes sustainability-linked bonds and loans is still missing. This article addresses this gap with a PRISMA-based systematic review of 80 published studies and working papers available through March 2025. The review addresses three core themes in green debt research: (i) sustainability premiums, (ii) stock market responses, and (iii) issuers’ improvements in environmental, social and governance performance. The review concludes by highlighting new avenues for research that could deepen our understanding of green debt and promote a more holistic approach to sustainable finance.

Shari’ah governance and financial performance: a bibliometric analysis and research agenda

Purpose The purpose of this study is to conduct bibliometric analysis of research on Shari’ah governance and financial performance (SG-FP) published between 2010 and 2024. Design/methodology/approach In all, 257 documents were obtained from the Web of Science and Scopus data sets and analyzed using citation analysis, co-citation analysis, content analysis, keyword analysis and thematic evolution, using R Studio and VOSviewer software. A systematic literature review framework guided the data collection using PRISMA guidelines to ensure rigor. Findings This study identified growth trends, prominent countries, authors, seminal articles, journals, significant themes and emerging themes for future research. The findings of this study highlight SG-FP research’s increasing relevance and collaborative nature, showing a dynamic research environment. However, there remains a noticeable gap in studies exploring qualitative dimensions of SG’s impact on FP. While quantitative studies dominate, understanding SG’s contextual and cultural nuances requires deeper exploration through qualitative methodologies. Research limitations/implications This study calls for qualitative methodologies, such as case studies and interviews, to explore cultural, regional and contextual dimensions of SG frameworks and their influence on FP. Originality/value This study systematically reviews and visualizes the intellectual development of SG-FP research, identifying gaps and providing a structured agenda for future research. This includes recommending qualitative studies to address the nuanced relationship between SG and FP.

Advancing the sociopolitical view of supply chain management

PurposeWorld trade and global supply chains are undergoing seismic shifts due to rapidly shifting social trends, changing cultural norms and heightened geopolitical tensions among nation-states, including tariffs, trade wars and armed conflicts. This paper explores how political, social and cultural forces affect supply chains (SCs) and how SCs respond to these influences. It aims to define and promote a sociopolitical view of supply chain management (SCM). We achieve this by synthesizing insights from existing literature and examining emerging trends to develop a comprehensive framework that incorporates macro-, meso- and micro-level forces. The paper concludes by outlining a future research agenda to further the sociopolitical view of SCM.Design/methodology/approachWe conduct a comprehensive text-mining exercise to explore the impact of sociopolitical forces, including government trade policies, tariffs and legislation, on the placement of SC infrastructure and trade flows. Our data sources comprise news databases, company websites and media outlets. Our analysis has identified multinational enterprises that relocated facilities or changed suppliers from China to other countries between 2018 and 2024, a timeframe characterized by significant sociopolitical upheaval due to the US–China trade war and the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsOur findings reveal a significant shift in production facilities and sub-tier suppliers away from China to countries such as Bangladesh, India, Vietnam and Mexico. Our analysis highlights not only the political factors, such as tariffs and trade wars, but also the social unrest that has driven these changes in SC designs. The findings inform a framework for advancing the sociopolitical view of SCM.Practical implicationsPolicymakers can use the provided framing to support businesses and their global supply chains (GSCs) during periods of extreme social and political upheaval. Policy levers can include facilitating trade relationships with friendly nations, reducing trade barriers and supporting businesses with SC mapping analysis and visibility tools. Business managers are provided with a holistic understanding of the interactions between sociopolitical factors and GSCs to better prepare for future disruption events.Originality/valueThe mainstream SCM literature has viewed the impact of social trends, cultural norms and geopolitical tensions on SC flows in a piecemeal fashion. In an era characterized by geopolitical tensions, cultural shifts and regulatory changes, we argue that scholars must adopt a comprehensive, multilevel perspective to better analyze the sociopolitical forces at play in GSCs. This paper defines and advances a sociopolitical view of SCM to create a foundation for further research.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) research in tourism and hospitality: insights from bibliometric analysis

Purpose This study reviews the existing literature on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the tourism and hospitality (T&H) sectors. Using bibliometric analysis, this study aims to present a comprehensive overview of the scientific structure of DEI research and propose a future research agenda to address ongoing challenges and gaps in the field. Design/methodology/approach A two-stage bibliometric methodology was applied. First, 670 articles were collected from Scopus and Web of Science. Then, scientometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer, incorporating descriptive analysis, co-citation network analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis to provide a multidimensional research landscape of DEI in T&H. Findings The analysis identified five critical thematic clusters: gender diversity and equality; cultural participation and community engagement; host–guest interactions and social dynamics; economic disparities and empowerment; and accessible and inclusive tourism. The study also highlights gaps, particularly around intersectionality and invisible disabilities, offering a roadmap for future research in the T&H industry. Practical implications This research offers insights for industry practitioners, emphasizing the need for comprehensive DEI strategies to improve inclusivity and equity in both workplace environments and customer experiences, ultimately enhancing organizational performance. Originality/value This study provides a thorough bibliometric review of DEI research in T&H, mapping its intellectual structure and identifying key research gaps. It offers significant value by proposing a research agenda to address these gaps and advancing DEI knowledge in the industry.

EXPRESS: Automated versus Human Agents: A Meta-Analysis of Customer Responses to Robots, Chatbots, and Algorithms and Their Contingencies

This meta-analysis examines when three types of automated agents (AAs)—robots, chatbots, and algorithms—are equivalent to human agents (HAs) in marketing roles. Analyzing 943 effect sizes from 327 studies provides novel insights. First, customers may be skeptical of AAs; however, they value their performance and eventually choose or buy from them as if they were interacting with HAs. Second, each of the three AA types has a unique set of contingencies that affect its human equivalence; previously identified contingencies do not generalize and can even have opposing effects across AA types. This study also identifies novel contingencies, such as the multifaceted concept of artificial intelligence required to fulfill a task. Third, some contingencies make AAs more humanlike, while others make their machine characteristics salient. These findings enrich the concept of automated social presence (ASP), suggesting that AAs are hybrid beings with a social presence (i.e., the feeling of interacting with a humanlike entity) and an automated presence (i.e., the feeling of interacting with a machine entity). The authors provide recommendations on when AAs can replace HAs in marketing roles to release capacity and alleviate labor shortages. They also suggest a future research agenda.

Algorithmic fandom: how generative AI is reshaping sports marketing, fan engagement, and the integrity of sport

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the landscape of sports marketing by enabling hyper-personalised fan engagement, real-time content delivery, and data-driven commercial strategies. Leveraging technologies such as machine learning, predictive analytics, and automated content generation, sports organisations are increasingly able to tailor fan experiences, anticipate behaviour, and optimise revenue models. While these advancements offer significant opportunities for enhancing interactivity and commercial growth, they also introduce complex ethical, psychological, and regulatory challenges. This paper critically examines the dual nature of generative AI in sports marketing, with a particular focus on consumer autonomy, data monetisation, and the influence of AI-driven personalisation on fan behaviour. Using narrative literature review approach, the paper draws on emerging research, industry cases, and interdisciplinary literature, and explores how algorithmic recommendation systems can manipulate fan decisions, reinforce digital echo chambers, and marginalise underrepresented sports. Special attention is given to the impact of AI on children and adolescents, who are particularly vulnerable to targeted content, gamification, and AI-curated betting environments. The integration of AI in gambling platforms and the commercialisation of fan data raise significant concerns around privacy, consent, and long-term wellbeing. The paper concludes by offering some implementation guidance for sport ecosystem stakeholders. It also outlines a future research agenda that calls for empirical investigations into the long-term effects of AI on fan behaviour, the development of regulatory frameworks to safeguard consumer rights, and interdisciplinary collaboration to design ethical AI systems. By identifying these critical issues, the paper aims to support a more inclusive, transparent, and integrity-focused application of AI in sport.

Evolution and future agenda of service robot research: a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis approach

PurposeGiven the rapid proliferation of service robots in the hospitality and tourism industry and the increasing complexity of stakeholder interactions, this study aims to systematically analyze stakeholder perspectives and interactions in service robot implementation in hospitality and tourism studies.Design/methodology/approachThe review analyses 175 articles published between 2019 and 2023 in Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) and Business Management (BM) journals, combining industry-specific insights and broader business contexts to examine service robot implementation and theoretical development. The study employs Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDA) to systematically analyze research trends and theoretical developments.FindingsOur analysis highlights three main points. First, service robot research has evolved from technological implementation to more meaningful human-robot interaction dynamics, emphasizing psychological aspects, social responses, and relationship building in service environments. Second, limited research on stakeholders' viewpoints on organizational impacts suggests a need for more comprehensive stakeholder analysis in service robot studies. Third, HTM and BM journals exhibit different research trends and focus areas, HTM focuses primarily on operational applications, customer experience, and service efficiency. In contrast, BM journals emphasize theoretical development, strategic implications, and organizational transformation.Originality/valueThis review maps the knowledge structures across HTM and BM journals within hospitality and tourism contexts. This study makes dual contributions. Theoretically, it reveals the current research landscape and guides future research directions. Practically, it provides valuable insights for industry practitioners, including managers implementing service robots, engineers designing robot functionalities, and designers developing human-robot interfaces by offering stakeholder perspectives and evidence-based implementation strategies.

The Evolution And Impact Of Sukuk In Indonesia: A Systematic Literature Review And Future Research Agenda

Sukuk, or Islamic bonds, have emerged as a significant financial instrument in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country. This systematic literature review aims to analyze the evolution and impact of sukuk in Indonesia from 2012 to 2024. Using the PRISMA methodology, 25 relevant studies were identified and analyzed. The review results show a rapid growth in sukuk issuance, driven by government support and increasing demand for sharia-compliant financial instruments. Four main themes emerge from the analysis: (1) sukuk as an alternative financing tool for infrastructure development, (2) factors affecting sukuk ratings and yields, (3) comparison between sukuk and conventional bonds, and (4) challenges in developing the sukuk market. The findings show the potential of sukuk in supporting sustainable economic growth in Indonesia, especially through innovations such as green sukuk and Sukuk Waqf. However, challenges such as lack of market understanding and the need for a stronger regulatory framework remain. The review also identifies gaps in the literature and proposes a future research agenda, including long-term impact studies, cross-country comparative analysis, and exploration of fintech applications in sukuk issuance and trading. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, industry practitioners, and academics interested in the development of the sukuk market in Indonesia and its potential for economic development

Embracing duality in academic spin‐offs: A systematic review and agenda for future research

AbstractAcademic spin‐offs (ASOs), a distinct form of hybrid venture, operate at the intersection of economic (business) and non‐economic (academic) logics. Although traditional literature often portrays these logics as inherently conflicting, emphasizing the trade‐offs ASOs must manage, recent empirical findings challenge this view, suggesting that integrating academic and business logics can be beneficial. This paper presents a systematic review of the ASO literature, leveraging the concept of duality to explore the dynamic interplay between academic and business logics. The duality perspective underscores the importance of considering both complementarities and oppositions between seemingly incompatible logics. By synthesizing existing empirical findings, we propose a framework that clarifies how the oppositions and complementarities between academic and business logics influence ASOs’ academic and business outcomes. Our framework highlights the need for more nuanced, dynamic and multilevel approaches in studying ASOs, offering future research directions that embrace the duality perspective. This integrative view aims to inspire further investigation into hybrid ventures, illustrating how economic and non‐economic logics can jointly foster both non‐economic and economic outcomes.

Appreciative inquiry: a systematic review and future research agenda

PurposeThis study reviews and synthesizes the research on appreciative inquiry (AI). It presents an intellectual structure of the field and highlights the recent trends in AI research. It presents a comprehensive research framework outlining the underlying mechanisms of AI and their corresponding potential functionalities across levels: individual, group and organisation. It provides future research avenues based on the synthesis.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a bibliometric systematic literature review method. The presented analysis covers both bibliometric and in-depth manual content analysis. In total, 68 articles indexed in the Scopus database were analysed.FindingsThe study shows a predominant focus on the application of AI in healthcare and education sectors, and most of the research is limited to the global north and the Pacific. It provides a comprehensive research framework proposing its application through other theoretical anchors and extending to multiple areas of management. Future research is required to determine the role of disseminators of the AI method and the boundary conditions in crafting the success narratives of AI as a method.Originality/valueThis study takes advantage of both bibliometric and in-depth content analysis to expand the understanding of the intellectual structure and recent developments in AI. It demonstrates the emerging trends in AI literature, such as its use as an evaluating instrument and application to study sensitive populations. It reveals how AI effectively ensures perceptions of a safe space for vulnerable populations and highlights its scope of application to a broader set of domains. It highlights the future research directions to enrich AI literature.

Internal marketing and organizational performance: A systematic review and future research agenda

Internal marketing and organizational performance: A systematic review and future research agenda

Status of Urban Sharing Research: Contexts, Methods, Theories and Future Research Agendas

ABSTRACTThe literature on the sharing economy within tourism and hospitality predominantly focuses on the accommodation sector regardless of the evolutionary trends in other sectors. The objective of this study was to examine the status of the urban sharing literature to fill research gaps. A review of 88 studies was performed, and the contexts, methods, and theories were synthesised. The findings revealed the status of urban sharing research. Major themes, theories, methods, and contexts were identified. The study also discussed future research directions to build an understanding of urban sharing research in the hospitality and tourism literature. Our findings suggest a need for more research to understand the dynamics of urban sharing ecosystems. The exclusion criteria limited the study's scope, suggesting greater exploration and the inclusion of non‐accommodation sectors to support greater development of the literature.

The applications of machine learning mechanisms in the compositions of internet of things services: A systematic study, current progress, and future research agenda

The applications of machine learning mechanisms in the compositions of internet of things services: A systematic study, current progress, and future research agenda

Anxiety sensitivity and cannabis use: A systematic review and conceptualization of research findings.

Anxiety sensitivity and cannabis use: A systematic review and conceptualization of research findings.

Moving Health 4.0 forward: a systematic literature review, challenges and future research agenda

PurposeDespite the potential of Health 4.0 to improve healthcare systems, current research does not properly explain its main emerging technologies, the application areas and the primary barriers to its implementation in practice. Therefore, this study aims to identify the main areas of application and the barriers to implementing Health 4.0 in healthcare systems in practice.Design/methodology/approachTo address these issues, this study conducted a systematic literature review following the PRISMA protocol to identify the main applications and barriers to implementing Health 4.0.FindingsThe research findings enhance our understanding of the current advancements in Health 4.0 research and the principal challenges that must be tackled for its practical implementation in society. Based on these findings, we proposed a novel framework that assists healthcare decision-makers in overcoming obstacles to achieving Health 4.0 through the establishment of Smart Hospitals.Practical implicationsThe study concludes that implementing Health 4.0 necessitates an interdisciplinary approach and the adoption of disruptive technologies, which must be customized for the varying social, economic and technological contexts of health systems across different countries.Originality/valueThe article demonstrates that adopting emerging technologies is crucial for the transition, as it highlights the importance of safeguarding data security and patient privacy. An interdisciplinary research agenda is developed, outlining priority directions for researchers, practitioners and policymakers to advance Health 4.0 realization.

The Influential Factors of CSR Reporting in China: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda

Despite China’s increasing integration into the global economy, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding of the drivers and consequences of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting in this unique and dynamic sociopolitical context. This systematic literature review examines the various factors that influence the nature, extent, and process of CSR reporting in China. It synthesises empirical evidence from 54 peer-reviewed research papers published from 2004 to 2023. The review findings reveal a number of influential factors, which are classified into three categories based on Adams (2002): corporate characteristics, general contextual factors, and internal contextual factors, and indicate a complex interplay of political, regulatory, economic, and organisational influences shaping the Chinese CSR reporting practice over the past two decades. This review highlights notable gaps in the extant literature, particularly the dearth of (qualitative) studies exploring general and internal contextual factors. It further proposes a future research agenda calling for deeper inquiries into the evolution, efficacy, and impact of CSR reporting in China and beyond.

Co-creation of experiences in tourism: A conceptual perspective through a meta-review and thematic mapping

Co-creation of experiences can be defined as the process through which customers and organisations collaborate to create experiences. There has been a notable lack of knowledge regarding tourism experiences and their interrelationship with the co-creation process. This article aims to systematically review the scientific literature on the co-creation of tourism experiences and to delve deeper into the discussion of the different perspectives on tourism experiences, seeking to understand their connection to the co-creation process. To this end, a meta-review, including thematic mapping and content analysis, is applied to 82 articles published between 2009 and 2021, a year that marked the end of a particularly challenging period for the tourism industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main contributions of this study are the presentation of new definitions of tourism experiences and the systematisation of the co-creation process, considering the supply-side dimensions, given that much of the existing literature predominantly focuses on the tourist perspective. Furthermore, the study identifies existing gaps and proposes a future research agenda.

Unpacking the role of place branding and smart cities in attracting foreign direct investment: theoretical perspectives and future research paths

PurposeThis study aims to conduct a systematic literature review on the interplay between place branding, smart cities and foreign direct investment (FDI) to identify key theoretical perspectives that support FDI attraction and explore future research directions within this emerging field.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review was conducted with Scopus and Web of Science to explore how place branding, smart cities and FDI attraction have been studied together. A final sample of 20 selected articles formed the foundation of this review, revealing three key theoretical perspectives essential for enhancing resource attraction for cities. This review also identified theoretical gaps and provided directions for future research.FindingsAmong the main findings, three theoretical perspectives were identified and discussed as emerging trends in the literature that should be managed to enhance FDI attraction to cities: social impact and stakeholder engagement, environmental impact and infrastructure, and economy, politics and local branding. Based on the identified theoretical gaps, a future research agenda is proposed.Practical implicationsIn practical terms, this study offers valuable insights to city planners, policymakers and marketing professionals regarding strategies that enhance a city’s attractiveness to foreign investors. Combining place branding with smart city initiatives outlines pathways for promoting economic growth and competitiveness, providing concrete steps for cities aiming to increase FDI inflows.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to synthesize current knowledge on the interplay between place branding, smart cities and FDI attraction. It also advances the literature by identifying key theoretical perspectives that enhance FDI attraction to cities. In addition, the systematic review uncovers critical theoretical gaps, shaping a future research agenda and providing valuable guidance for scholars in this field.

A scientometric analysis of anti-corruption disclosure and corporate governance: an agenda for future research

A scientometric analysis of anti-corruption disclosure and corporate governance: an agenda for future research