Bibliometric Analysis of Digital Leadership Studies

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive and holistic perspective on the field of digital leadership by conducting a bibliometric analysis of publications in this field. Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database was utilized to gateher bibliometric data. Keywords such as "digital leadership", "e-leadership", "virtual leadership", "leadership 4.0" was used in the research. A total of 141 articles published between 2000 and 2022 were examined by means of the bibliometric analysis method. In the section of analysis, performance analyzes and bibliometric analyzes called co-occurrence and co-citation were performed. According to findings, the annual growth rate in the field of digital leadership is 15.09%, while the average number of citations per article is 21.48 in the performance analysis. Some of the prominent themes in the co-occurence analysis include "Digital Leadership and Performance Management," "Knowledge and Student Experience in Digital Education," "Transformation and Innovation in Digital Leadership" etc. Some of the cluster names obtained as a result of co-citation analysis are "Digital Leadership and Virtual Team Management," "Coordination and Consensus in Multi-Agent Systems," "Digital Leadership Skills and Psychological Well-Being," which represent prominent and intensively studied themes in the field of digital leadership. As a conclusion, the number and importance of studies in the field of digital leadership are gradually increasing. The obtained data help us understand the thematic evolution of digital leadership research and shifts of interest in the research community. Digital leadership is a leadership model that is focused on innovation and performance which require effective communication and information management competencies. Several recommendations are proposed for researchers, practitioners and policymakers to further develop and implement effective digital leadership strategies. Expanding theoretical frameworks, conducting longitudinal studies, implementing leadership development programs, fostering a digital culture, supporting digital transformation, establishing standards and guidelines, promoting digital literacy are amongst them.