Enhancing Rigor in Literature Reviews for Business and Management Research: Avoiding Prevalent Errors

Abstract

The literature review is a crucial component of academic research, providing a comprehensive understanding of the current state of knowledge and guiding future research agendas. However, researchers often make common mistakes that compromise the rigor and effectiveness of their literature reviews. This study aims to identify and discuss these prevalent errors in literature reviews for business and management research and provide researchers with a step-by- step guide to enhance the rigor of their literature reviews. The study highlights common mistakes such as a lack of systematic search strategy, failure to critically evaluate and synthesize the literature, unclear research objectives and questions, and overreliance on outdated or biased sources. By following a systematic approach and avoiding these prevalent errors, researchers can ensure that their literature reviews contribute to the overall rigor and quality of research in the field, facilitating the generation of new ideas, identifying research gaps, and enhancing the understanding of business and management phenomena. This study is vital for researchers, scholars, and business and management research practitioners, providing practical tools to improve the rigor and effectiveness of their literature reviews.

Keywords: Business research, literature review, management research, prevalent errors, research methodology, rigor

JEL Classification: M10, M15, M21