Exploring the critical success factors (CSFs) for enterprise competitiveness in crises: A bibliometric review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18559/ref.2025.1.2224

Keywords:

enterprise competitiveness, critical success factors (CSFs), crisis management, economic disruption, bibliometric analysis

Abstract

This paper examines the evolution of research on critical success factors (CSFs) that enhance competitiveness during enterprise crises. Crises include economic recessions, financial shocks, pandemics and global disruptions. A bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed literature from 1998 to 2024 was conducted to address influential authors, key journals, themes and countries. Excel was used to perform statistical analysis, while VOSviewer was used to visualise the authors’ keywords in a network. The study focuses on the fields of business, economics and finance, emphasising their critical role in steering turbulent markets. The findings indicate a significant increase in research related to the CSF of enterprise competitiveness during major disruptive events, particularly during economic and financial crises. Countries such as the UK, China, Malaysia and India rank among the top publisher countries. Major themes focus on business resilience, supply chain continuity and organisational agility as core pillars for enterprises to maintain their competitiveness. Although this article relied on the Scopus database, its findings remain valuable, providing a solid foundation for future research. This study serves as a guide for experts, managers and policymakers on evidence-based strategies – such as risk management, dynamic capabilities and leadership agility (...).

JEL Classification

International Economics (F)
Financial Crises (G01)
Crisis Management (H12)
International Business Administration (M16)

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aria, M., & Cuccurullo, C. (2017). bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959–975.
View in Google Scholar

Asokan, D. R., Huq, F. A., Smith, C. M., & Stevenson, M. (2022). Socially responsible operations in the Industry 4.0 era: Post-COVID-19 technology adoption and perspectives on future research. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 42(13), 185–217.
View in Google Scholar

Ayan, B., Güner, E., & Son-Turan, S. (2022). Blockchain technology and sustainability in supply chains and a closer look at different industries: A mixed method approach. Logistics, 6(4), 85.
View in Google Scholar

Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120.
View in Google Scholar

Burcă, V., Bogdan, O., Bunget, O.-C., & Dumitrescu, A.-C. (2024). Corporate financial performance vs. corporate sustainability performance, between earnings management and process improvement. Sustainability, 16(17), 7744.
View in Google Scholar

Calderon-Monge, E., & Ribeiro-Soriano, D. (2024). The role of digitalization in business and management: A systematic literature review. Review of Managerial Science, 18(2), 449–491.
View in Google Scholar

Chudziński, P., Cyfert, S., Dyduch, W., & Zastempowski, M. (2022). Leadership decisions for company SurVIRval: Evidence from organizations in Poland during the first Covid-19 lockdown. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 35(8), 79–102.
View in Google Scholar

Ciekanowski, Z., Chrzaszcz, A., Wysokinska, A., & Marciniak, S. (2024). Crisis management in modern organisations. European Research Studies Journal, XXVIΙ(3), 610–620.
View in Google Scholar

Coombs, W. T. (2007). Ongoing crisis communication: Planning, managing, and responding. Sage.
View in Google Scholar

Florek-Paszkowska, A., Ujwary-Gil, A., & Godlewska-Dzioboń, B. (2021). Business innovation and critical success factors in the era of digital transformation and turbulent times. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, 17(4), 7–28.
View in Google Scholar

Ivanov, D., & Dolgui, A. (2021). A digital supply chain twin for managing the disruption risks and resilience in the era of Industry 4.0. Production Planning and Control, 32(9), 775–788.
View in Google Scholar

Javed, A., Basit, A., Ejaz, F., Hameed, A., Fodor, Z. J., & Hossain, M. B. (2024). The role of advanced technologies and supply chain collaboration: During COVID-19 on sustainable supply chain performance. Discover Sustainability, 5(1).
View in Google Scholar

Kannan, D., Amiri, A. S., Shaayesteh, M. T., Nasr, A. K., & Mina, H. (2024). Unveiling barriers to the integration of blockchain-based circular economy and Industry 5.0 in manufacturing industries: A strategic prioritization approach. Business Strategy and the Environment, 33(8), 7855–7886.
View in Google Scholar

Khan, M. A., Pattnaik, D., Ashraf, R., Ali, I., Kumar, S., & Donthu, N. (2021). Value of special issues in the journal of business research: A bibliometric analysis. Journal of Business Research, 125, 295–313.
View in Google Scholar

Khan, M., Ajmal, M. M., Jabeen, F., Talwar, S., & Dhir, A. (2023). Green supply chain management in manufacturing firms: A resource-based viewpoint. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(4), 1603–1618.
View in Google Scholar

Kiefer, C. P., Carrillo-Hermosilla, J., & del Río, P. (2024). How does corporate environmental culture enable the eco-innovation transition of firms towards the circular economy? Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(6), 5911–5937.
View in Google Scholar

Lengnick-Hall, C. A., Beck, T. E., & Lengnick-Hall, M. L. (2011). Developing a capacity for organizational resilience through strategic human resource management. Human Resource Management Review, 21(3), 243–255.
View in Google Scholar

Maden, A., Özceylan, E., Muhacir, D., & Mrugalska, B. (2024). Evaluation of critical success factors for antifragile supply chains using Delphi and Fuzzy QFD Methods. Management and Production Engineering Review, 15(3), 1–12.
View in Google Scholar

Mahdi, O. R., & Nassar, I. A. (2021). The business model of sustainable competitive advantage through strategic leadership capabilities and knowledge management processes to overcome covid-19 pandemic. Sustainability, 13(17), 9891.
View in Google Scholar

Martinez, L. B., Scherger, V., & Orazi, S. (2023). Post-pandemic performance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises: A self-organizing maps application. Cogent Business and Management, 10(3), 2276944.
View in Google Scholar

Matinaro, V., Liu, Y., Lee, T. R. (Jiun S.), & Poesche, J. (2019). Extracting key factors for sustainable development of enterprises: Case study of SMEs in Taiwan. Journal of Cleaner Production, 209, 1152–1169.
View in Google Scholar

Nisar, Q. A., Haider, S., Ameer, I., Hussain, M. S., Gill, S. S., & Usama, A. (2023). Sustainable supply chain management performance in post COVID-19 era in an emerging economy: A big data perspective. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 18(12), 5900–5920.
View in Google Scholar

Orjuela, E. T. R., Rincón-Guevara, O., & Jaimes, W. A. (2023). Hospital supply chain management: Cross-disciplinarity opportunities in the post-pandemic era and research agenda. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 16(1), 47–61.
View in Google Scholar

Philsoophian, M., Akhavan, P., & Abbasi, M. (2021). Strategic alliance for resilience in supply chain: A bibliometric analysis. Sustainability, 13(22), 12715.
View in Google Scholar

Rockart, J. F. (1979). Chief executives define their own data needs. Harvard Business Review, 57(2), 81–93.
View in Google Scholar

Setyaningrum, R., & Muafi, M. (2023). Green human resource management, green supply chain management, green lifestyle: Their effect on business sustainability mediated by digital skills. Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management, 16(1), 1–26.
View in Google Scholar

Souza, M. A. F. de, Madeira, M. J. A., Carvalho, L., Duarte, F. A. P., & Simão, L. (2024). Confluence of factors that influence business model by digitalisation and Industry 4.0 Technologies. Management Letters / Cuadernos de Gestion, 24(2), 21–37.
View in Google Scholar

Štrukelj, T., Dankova, P., & Hrast, N. (2023). Strategic transition to sustainability: A cybernetic model. Sustainability, 15(22), 15948.
View in Google Scholar

Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509–533.
View in Google Scholar

Troise, C., Corvello, V., Ghobadian, A., & O’Regan, N. (2022). How can SMEs successfully navigate VUCA environment: The role of agility in the digital transformation era. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 174, 121227.
View in Google Scholar

Vongurai, R. (2024). Investigating Industry 4.0, blockchain adoption, and sustainability on Thai finance’s operational excellence. Global Business and Finance Review, 29(5), 88–102.
View in Google Scholar

Zupic, I., & Čater, T. (2015). Bibliometric methods in management and organization. Organizational Research Methods, 18(3), 429–472.
View in Google Scholar

Downloads

Published

2025-08-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Hamdouna, M. (2025). Exploring the critical success factors (CSFs) for enterprise competitiveness in crises: A bibliometric review. Research Papers in Economics and Finance, 9(1), 103-128. https://doi.org/10.18559/ref.2025.1.2224

Similar Articles

21-30 of 103

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.