A researcher’s position within the ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined bibliometric indicator that exclusively considers publications and citation counts within the targeted discipline of Business and Management. This focus guarantees that the ranking reflects expertise and influence specifically in this field rather than generalized scholarly output.
Scope and Criteria of the Ranking
The ranking’s scope was extensive and rigorous, evaluating a total of 279,971 scientist profiles sourced from a variety of bibliometric databases encompassing all scientific disciplines. Within this pool, 1,297 scientists were identified as belonging to the field of Business and Management. To qualify for inclusion in the Business and Management ranking, candidates were required to have a minimum D-index of 30. Furthermore, a majority of their tier publications needed to be explicitly within the Business and Management area, ensuring relevant domain-specific contributions.
In addition to bibliometric thresholds, consideration was also given to the scientists’ awards and professional achievements within the Business and Management discipline—integrating qualitative metrics to augment the overall assessment.
The threshold for D-index qualification varies across disciplines, incremented in steps of 10 according to the estimated population of scholars in each field. This calibrated approach ensures that the top 1% of leading researchers are consistently incorporated into the ranking. Additionally, to maintain disciplinary specificity, a proximity criterion requires that the difference between a scientist’s general H-index and their discipline-specific D-index not exceed 30%.
Verification and Validation Practices
At Research.com, we acknowledge that raw bibliometric data alone cannot serve as an absolute measure of scholarly output or quality. Consequently, all scientist profiles in the ranking underwent meticulous manual verification and were cross-correlated against publication records verified through a wide range of trustworthy and reputable sources.
While the quantity of papers published in prominent journals and conference proceedings does not directly impact the ranking position, it serves as a valuable secondary indicator of a scientist’s contribution and influence within Business and Management research.
The ranking position is ultimately established using each researcher’s D-index calculated from data gathered via OpenAlex and CrossRef, two of the most prominent and widely respected bibliometric databases available to the global research community.
For an in-depth understanding of the methodology applied, we encourage readers to visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Vision
The creation of this ranking aligns with Research.com’s overarching mission: to inspire researchers, academic institutions, industry stakeholders, and policymakers worldwide to explore the trajectories of leading experts in their respective fields. By providing a transparent and carefully curated resource that identifies top scientists, we aim to foster greater recognition and collaboration within the scientific community.
Through these rankings, we offer a clear, data-driven pathway for the broader community to become acquainted with who the foremost specialists are, whether by discipline, country, or research institution—thereby supporting informed decision-making in funding, recruitment, and strategic development.
