Contribution of Grounded Theory in management research between 2013 and 2022

A Bibliometric study

Abstract

The importance attributed to the qualitative methodology has been increasing in recent years, since it is becoming consensual that it has a relevant role when one wants to deepen topics that are traditionally studied through methodologies anchored in the quantitative approach. This article aims to analyze the contribution of Grounded Theory (GT) in research in the field of management, since it is essential to begin to approach this area from methodologies that are more sensitive to the institutional and cultural context in which organizations are inserted. Therefore, it seeks to identify and justify the application of GT in this topic, since it is a methodology little explored in this area of knowledge, which emphasizes the relevance of taking stock of the articles published between 2013 and 2022. Through a bibliometric approach with the support of visual maps of the research indexed to the Web of Science, created with VOSViewer, it was intended to give a panoramic view of the studies published in this scientific area. The results indicate that although the number of published articles has been increasing in recent years, there are still few publications that use GT in the area of management, which may be due to the practical nature of management studies, where the measurement and analysis of numerical data are considered more objective and reliable. In addition, many management studies have tight timelines and limited budgets, which may make it difficult to implement such a resource-intensive approach. Nevertheless, GT contributes to generating new knowledge and insights in the field of management. By challenging existing theories, it fosters the development of new perspectives that enhance the understanding of organizational phenomena, which contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field of management.