Global Trends in Quality Management Research: Collaboration, Influence and Emerging Priorities

Abstract

Abstract: From 2020 to 2025, qualitative research on quality management (QM) has seen large growth. Many of the new studies have been based on surveys and qualitative data collected from several countries. Though this research has been flourishing, there has still been little in the way of bibliometric study in this area. The current study attempts to highlight this gap. It analyzes 2,963 documents from Elsevier Scopus and 1,466 from the Web of Science and reveals dimensions and major interests and goals of QM research. The analysis reveals major actors (authors, institutions, and funding bodies) who have been participating in QM research. This study also presents evidence of collaboration on QM research. In particular, using the VOSViewer program, the study presents intellectual structures and collaboration and research networks. The outcomes of this study, in particular the intellectual structures and research networks, indicate gaps in QM research. This study presents a bibliometric synopsis of QM and provides a historical perspective that assists researchers and practitioners in identifying and understanding existing and future research..