The Role of Business Strategy in Advancing Sustainability Goals: a Comprehensive Systematic and Bibliometric Analysis

Senthil Kumar Jaya Prakash (), Ravi Aluvala, Srinivasa Rao Y, Kusuma Thimmapuram and Srihari G
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Senthil Kumar Jaya Prakash: GITAM School of Business, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM)
Ravi Aluvala: Mahatma Gandhi University
Srinivasa Rao Y: VFSTR Deemed to be University, Department of Management Studies
Kusuma Thimmapuram: Department of Commerce, Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College
Srihari G: Department of CSE, K.S.R.M. College of Engineering

Circular Economy and Sustainability, 2025, vol. 5, issue 5, 4243-4270

Abstract: Abstract Purpose The main aim of the study is to access the existing body of literature to understand the current state of knowledge regarding the relationship between business strategy and sustainability goals. This involves identifying key themes, trends, and gaps in literature. Methodology The study uses bibliometric analysis to quantify the volume and growth of research output in the field, identify key contributors, examine collaboration patterns, map research themes, and provide insights into the level of attention and interest in the intersection of business strategy and sustainability from 1983 to 2023. The compilation comprises data from multiple sources, resulting in a SCOPUS corpus including 921 scholarly articles and 53 review documents. Findings The report indicates that the interest in sustainability goals and company strategy in growing. Almost 72 countries have contributed to the research of business strategy and sustainability. USA is the major contributor (285 documents), followed by UK (262 documents) and Italy (178 documents), whereas India has contributed 159 documents on this subject. The top three most productive authors in the field are Kumar A(10 documents), Luthra S(7 documents), Frey M and Rizzi F(6 documents each). Bibliographic coupling has revealed six thematic clusters in the research. The Thematic map analysis further identified future research avenues in Business strategy and sustainability like competitive advantage, Corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, organizational capabilities, sustainable performance and others. Research Limitations The analysis may be biased by focusing on English-language articles. This may neglect valuable contributions in other languages, reducing the research landscape’s diversity and comprehensiveness. The present study considered data only from Scopus database, the other databases like Web of science and others also included for more accurate results. The study highlights several areas that require further investigation, including comprehensive research on the social, environmental, and sustainability goals and also technology driven strategies to address inequality. Originality Provide insights that can inform policymakers, businesses, and practitioners about effective strategies and best practices for integrating sustainability goals into business strategies, fostering environmentally and socially responsible practices. Encourage dialogue between academia and industry by bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical applications, fostering a better understanding of how businesses can contribute to broader sustainability objectives. Ultimately, the overarching purpose is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field of business strategy and sustainability, offering a foundation for future research endeavors and practical applications that drive positive environmental and social impacts.

Keywords: Business strategy; Sustainability; Bibliometric; Factorial analysis; VOSviewer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L10 L20 L21 M10 M19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s43615-025-00605-4

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