Introdução
The global landscape faces frequent crises—such as pandemics and climate change—commonly referred to as “Grand Challenges.” Complex, uncertain, and evaluative in nature, they expose systemic vulnerabilities and demand new responses. Organizational resilience has thus become an essential capability for long-term survival and relevance. Nevertheless, the literature connecting resilience and Grand Challenges remains fragmented, and a gap persists regarding how management can effectively contribute to addressing these complex problems.
Problema de Pesquisa e Objetivo
The objective of this research is to map the global landscape of organizational resilience studies in the context of Grand Challenges, aiming to uncover the main challenges, opportunities, and boundaries of the field. In addition, the study seeks to address the following research question: How has the field connecting organizational resilience and Grand Challenges evolved in terms of publication trends, dominant thematic streams, influential actors, and knowledge gaps, and what opportunities emerge for future research?
Fundamentação Teórica
Grand Challenges impose pressures on organizations that expose both vulnerabilities and innovation capabilities, particularly in the context of global crises (George et al., 2016). Organizational resilience, understood as the ability to anticipate, absorb, and adapt to shocks, emerges as a critical competence (Linnenluecke, 2015; Hällgren et al., 2018). However, the literature remains fragmented and dispersed across different domains, hindering the development of an integrative framework and limiting management’s contribution to addressing such problems.
Metodologia
The study employed the Web of Science (WoS) database, selecting 784 articles through a specific search string and relevance filters, including publications from 2000 to 2024. The analysis followed bibliometric techniques and the PRISMA protocol, using the Bibliometrix®/Biblioshiny (R) software. The aim was to map trends, influential authors, journals, and scientific collaboration networks in order to consolidate the research field.
Análise e Discussão dos Resultados
Scientific production, concentrated in the Global North, has grown exponentially since 2020, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the reactive nature of the field. Keyword analysis confirms the centrality of COVID-19 but reveals that long-term risks, such as climate change, remain underrepresented. The field is fragmented into two main axes: one conceptual/strategic and another applied/operational (focused on supply chains), with little integration between them.
Considerações Finais
The study concludes that research on organizational resilience and Grand Challenges, although rapidly expanding, remains fragmented and concentrated in the Global North. The literature is predominantly reactive, shaped by crises such as COVID-19, while long-term risks like climate change are largely overlooked. The main implication is that resilience should move beyond being merely a reactive response to shocks and instead become a strategic resource integrated into the sustainable transition. Achieving this requires a proactive and interdisciplinary research agenda.
Referências
GEORGE, G. et al. Understanding and tackling societal grand challenges through management research. Academy of Management Journal, v. 59, n. 6, p. 1880-1895, 2016.
HÄLLGREN, M.; ROULEAU, L.; DE ROND, M. A matter of life or death: How extreme context research matters for management and organization studies. Academy of Management Annals, v. 12, n. 1, p. 111-153, 2018.
LINNENLUECKE, Martina K.; BIRT, Jacqueline; GRIFFITHS, Andrew. The role of accounting in supporting adaptation to climate change. Accounting & finance, v. 55, n. 3, p. 607-625, 2015.