Responsible management education: mapping the trends, influential sources and research themes

Abstract

Purpose: This study carries out a systematic literature review (SLR) on responsible management education (RME). A total of 174 publications listed on the Scopus database addressing RME, published between 2007 and 2022 (inclusive), have been analyzed.Design/methodology/approach: The articles included in the study were searched based on relevant key terms in the title, abstract and author keywords associated with each publication. The analysis led to the identification of the most relevant sources, authors and publications that can be used to circumscribe RME. Selected studies were analyzed using the Bibliometrix R-tool.Findings: This study shows how three interrelated levels of analysis—namely, conceptual, intellectual and social—allow researchers to further organize the data to produce rich content for the RME. The contribution of this study is twofold: first, our values-based approach helps overcome the axiological ambiguity of the principles for RME (PRME), which invoke the importance of incorporating “the values of global social responsibility” (Principle 2) but fail to define and operationalize these values. Second, the authors provide a rationale and guidance for implementing values-based RME in business schools.Originality/value: This study offers a unique SLR on RME. It gives a clear picture of this field by talking about what has been done and what the future might hold for RME.