How does international management research address grand challenges? A bibliometric analysis

In the last decade, global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss have gained significant attention, particularly following the United Nations’ proclamation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. This growing awareness has influenced academic management literature, leading to a focus on “grand challenges” – complex, unsolved problems that require diverse actors and have the potential for global impact. These challenges, such as poverty, inequality, climate action and renewable energy transitions, are marked by their complexity, uncertainty and the diversity of perspectives on their solutions. While International Management research is positioned to address these issues, it has approached them in varying ways. This chapter analyzes the academic literature on grand challenges through bibliometric analyses of 208 publications from the Web of Science, focusing on management, business and economics. It also explores the contributions of International Management research to these issues, with a particular emphasis on social responsibility and the potential for resilience in addressing global crises.