Global research trends in innovative work behaviour: A bibliometric analysis of the knowledge structure and research evolution (2000–2026)

Abstract

Innovative Work Behaviour (IWB) has become an important research domain due to its significant role in enhancing organisational innovation, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability. Although research on IWB has expanded considerably over the past two decades, a comprehensive understanding of its intellectual development and global research landscape remains limited. This study aims to examine the evolution, knowledge structure, and research trends of IWB through a bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed publications published between 2000 and 2026. Bibliographic data were retrieved from the Scopus database using a structured search strategy, resulting in a final dataset of 1,564 publications after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Descriptive bibliometric indicators were analysed using Microsoft Excel and Harzing's Publish or Perish, while science mapping analyses were conducted using VOSviewer to examine collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, and source co-citation patterns. The findings reveal a substantial increase in publication output, particularly after 2020, indicating growing scholarly interest in IWB. Indonesia, Pakistan, India, China, and Malaysia emerged as the leading contributors in publication output, while leadership, transformational leadership, psychological empowerment, knowledge sharing, work engagement, and creativity were identified as the dominant research themes. The study further demonstrates that IWB has evolved into a multidisciplinary research field supported by extensive international collaboration and an increasingly interconnected knowledge base. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive overview of the evolution and intellectual structure of IWB research while identifying emerging research directions that may guide future studies and organisational innovation practices.