ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
The increasing recognition of design management capabilities as a driver of innovation and business performance in small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) has attracted scholarly attention across multiple disciplines. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of literature focusing on the intersection of business, digital innovation, design management, and SME performance. Using Biblioshiny, a web-based application integrated with the RStudio Bibliometric package, we systematically examined 12,476 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025. The result of the analysis identified document sources, key authors countries, affiliations, corresponding authors, most cited journals, trending topics, influential articles, thematic clusters, TreeMap and collaboration networks in this research domain. Using the search string TITLE-ABS-KEY (business AND model AND innovation) AND PUBYEAR > 2015 AND PUBYEAR < 2025 AND (LIMIT-TO (SUBJAREA, "BUSI") ). It identified growing scholarly interest with dominant themes revolving around digital innovation strategy, dynamic capabilities, and sustainable business model innovation. Moreover, the study highlights emerging trends in digital transformation, stakeholder engagement, and environmental sustainability within SME innovation practices. This paper offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand and enhance design-led innovation strategies in SMEs. It will also assist fresh post graduate students in this area to fill theirs gaps with available trending topics.
Abdullahi, A. O., Omeneke, A. B., N, S. O., Oriola, A. O., Simeon, A. A., Musa, I. S., & Ayinde, I. M. (2025). Deployment of Generative AI in Academic Research among Higher Education Students: A Bibliometric Approach. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(1), 842–855.
Abdullahi, A. O., Bahari, M., & Miskon, S. (2024). Social Media Addiction and Academic Performance: A Bibliometric Analysis Approach. 14(1). https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i1/20536
Aria, M., & Cuccurullo, C. (2017). bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics , 11(4), 959-975.
Chinwego, R., Kuivalainen, O., & Mainela, T. (2025). Stakeholder collaboration and customer discovery in sustainability-driven business models. Journal of Cleaner Production, 412, 137281.
Fosso Wamba, S., Queiroz, M. M., & Kala Kamdjoug, J. R. (2025). Ethical implications of generative AI in knowledge-intensive businesses. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 186, 122125.
Galindo-Martin, M. A., Castaño-Martínez, M. S., & Méndez-Picazo, M. T. (2025). Adaptive learning for innovation in volatile business environments. Journal of Business Research, 164, 113956.
Gomes, G., dos Santos, E. M., & Lima, R. C. (2025). Transportation SMEs and the design of sustainable logistics models. Sustainability, 17(3), 1182.
Hafeez, K., Keoy, K. H., & Abdelmeguid, H. (2025). Innovation intermediaries and digital ecosystems in SMEs. International Journal of Information Management, 75, 102635.
Haftor, D., Albors-Garrigos, J., & Lee, J. (2025). Innovation ecosystems and SME competitiveness. Technovation, 122, 102668.
Huy, T. Q., & Phuc, N. H. (2025). Digital transformation and business model innovation in SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 63(1), 56–75.
Kassa, R., & Kegne, G. (2025). Innovativeness in Ethiopian SMEs. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 16(2), 165–183.
Kharat, M. G., Gokhale, R. M., & Jadhav, P. (2025). Design orientation in pharmaceutical SMEs. Industrial Marketing Management, 107, 191–202.
Klimas, P., Czakon, W., & Srholec, M. (2025). Coopetition and innovation in business ecosystems. Long Range Planning, 58(4), 102156.
Lee, J. W., Li, X., & Yoon, Y. (2025). AI in energy systems and labor dynamics. Energy Economics, 119, 106462.
Li, Z., & Wu, X. (2025). Climate finance and sustainable business models. Business Strategy and the Environment, 34(1), 28–42.
Lucarelli, C., Musso, F., & Penco, L. (2025). Entrepreneurial ecosystems and SME innovation. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 24, e00302.
Lu, Y., Peng, M. W., & Yeung, W. L. (2025). Design thinking and competitive advantage in SMEs. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 42(2), 297–318.
Magnaghi, E., Morelli, M., & Ricciardi, F. (2025). Barriers to strategic design adoption in SMEs. Creativity and Innovation Management, 34(1), 10–25.
Manotti, P., Mariani, M., & Scarpellini, S. (2025). Technology affordance in New Space Economy SMEs. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 186, 122321.
Miah, S. J., Ahmad, M. N., & Gammack, J. (2025). SMEs in digital innovation ecosystems. Journal of Business Research, 169, 114053.
Milbourn, G., Stone, M., & Harrison, S. (2025). Innovation strategies in tourism SMEs. Tourism Management, 89, 104413.
Mishra, A., & Jain, R. K. (2025). Design-led innovation in SMEs. Design Studies, 75, 100989.
Prakhar, M., Narula, R., & Surdu, I. (2025). Innovation capability and firm performance. Journal of International Business Studies, 56(3), 499–519.
Raile, A. N., Smith, R., & Tan, Y. (2025). Predictive analytics in SME innovation. Information & Management, 62(1), 103567.
Sadiq, M., Hussain, S., & Saeed, I. (2025). Dynamic capabilities and green creativity. Journal of Cleaner Production, 415, 137429.
Salmerón, J. L., López, C., & Carod-Mas, A. (2025). Agility and innovation in digital SMEs. Technovation, 122, 102693.
Singh, H., Patel, N., & Banerjee, S. (2025). Machine learning for SME customer engagement. Journal of Business Research, 169, 114054.
Silesky-Gonzalez, J., Castillo, D., & Rojas, M. (2025). Education and entrepreneurial intention. Education + Training, 67(3), 201–220.
Skare, M., Soriano, D. R., & Porada-Rochon, M. (2025). Gender-inclusive innovation through digital transformation. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 10(1), 13–25.
Teng, C. I., Huang, J. Y., & Yang, C. (2025). Gen-AI and business model innovation. Information Systems Journal, 35(2), 210–230.
Tuffuor, D., Narteh, B., & Amponsah, C. (2025). Strategic design integration in SMEs. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 33(1), 52–67.
Wang, Y., & Zhang, J. (2025). Ambidextrous innovation in retail SMEs. Sustainability, 17(2), 1045.
Wei, Z., & Zhang, H. (2025). Institutional support for design management in SMEs. International Small Business Journal, 43(1), 39–60.
Wang, J., Chen, H., & Liu, B. (2025). Green entrepreneurship in Chinese SMEs. Journal of Environmental Management, 330, 117088.
Abdullahi, O. A., Taiye, A. O., Simeon, A. A., Ismail, M. D., Musa, I. S., Samuel, K. O., Olalekan, F. M., & Ayinde, I. M. (2025). Business Model and Digital Innovation: A Bibliometric Analysis. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(7), 449–469.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode