The Evolution of Digital Leadership Research: A Bibliometric Assessment and Future Research Agenda
Chapter from the book: Çetiner, N. (ed.) 2026. Sustainable Business Management .

Rana Özyurt Kaptanoğlu
İstanbul Topkapı University

Synopsis

This chapter examines the development of the digital leadership literature through bibliometric methods. Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database using the search term “Digital Leadership” and analyzed with the Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny tools. The findings reveal that the literature has experienced significant growth, particularly after 2020, with digital transformation, performance, and sustainability emerging as the field’s motor themes. In addition, artificial intelligence, digital literacy, and digital culture have been identified as central yet continuously developing areas of research. The results indicate that digital leadership research is evolving from technology-oriented approaches toward themes such as human–artificial intelligence interaction, sociotechnical leadership, and algorithmic governance. By mapping the intellectual structure of the digital leadership literature, this chapter offers a future research agenda and highlights promising directions for advancing knowledge in the field.

How to cite this book

Özyurt Kaptanoğlu, R. (2026). The Evolution of Digital Leadership Research: A Bibliometric Assessment and Future Research Agenda. In: Çetiner, N. (ed.), Sustainable Business Management . Özgür Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58830/ozgur.pub1336.c5338

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Published

June 29, 2026

DOI