Exploring the intersection of professional social networks and competitiveness : a systematic review and bibliometric analysis

Abstract

This study explores how professional social networks affect competitiveness using a bibliometric approach. The study uses data from the Web of Science database from 1998 to 2024 and a selection of 165 scholarly publications. The selection was made according to PRISMA guidelines for systematic literature review in 2020, while data analysis was done using Bibliometrix R package. The objective was to identify major research areas, spot new topics of interest, and chart the conceptual platform for this area by looking for co-citation, co-occurences from keywords, and thematic clusters. Early findings show how professional social networks help improve competitiveness by facilitating knowledge sharing, driving innovation diffusion, and generating strategic linkages. The clusters found were grouped into four broad categories: motor themes, basic themes, emerging themes, and niche themes, each described according to how they contribute to forming competitive advantage. This original comprehensive systematic review, to our knowledge, explores how professional social networks intersects with competitiveness, providing a sound groundwork for future studies.