Exploring Technology-Organization-Environment Research Trends in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs): A Scientometric Review

Purpose: This study aims to analyze published articles on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework in SMEs to identify prominent research areas and the interrelationship among various disciplines. Design/methodology/approach: A substantial corpus of 968 studies published between 1991 and 2022 in Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) and Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) journals was collected through a meticulous search on the Web of Science database. Findings: The findings reveal 'Sustainability' as the most productive journal, with Oliveira T. emerging as the most prolific author. Notably, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia are among the leading institutions in this research area. Silhouette scores identify 10 key topic clusters, showcasing strong interconnections among various themes, with scores ranging from 0.632 to 0.994. Furthermore, recent keyword analysis highlights a surge in 'computing adoption' research, boasting remarkable strength score of 3.92 over the past four years. Research limitations/implications: The data up to 2022, is possibly missing recent developments. The selection of articles and keywords may introduce some bias, and the exclusion of non-English publications due to language limitations is acknowledged. Originality: This study focuses on identifying and elucidating prominent research areas within the TOE framework. By employing advanced analysis techniques to uncover 10 key clusters of topics and their interconnections, this study not only highlights the diversity of research themes but also provides a nuanced understanding of how various disciplines intersect within the SME context. This aspect of the study offers a novel perspective that can guide future research and decision-making in academia and industry. Keywords: Document Citation Analysis, Network Analysis, Research Trends, Scientometric Analysis, Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs), TOE Framework
Introduction The Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, introduced by Tornatzky et al. (1990), explains innovation adoption at the firm level by considering three main contextual groups: technology, organization, and environment. It reflects [...]