A scientist’s position in the ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined metric that considers only publications and citation data directly related to the examined discipline—Business and Management in this case. This discipline-specific approach enables a more precise assessment of a researcher’s impact within their core area of expertise, avoiding distortions that may arise from cross-disciplinary publications.
Scope and Eligibility Criteria
The ranking process began with the examination of 279,971 scientist profiles identified from a diverse range of bibliometric data sources, covering all academic disciplines. Within this expansive dataset, 14 scientists were specifically recognized under the Business and Management discipline.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist’s D-index had to meet or exceed a threshold of 30, ensuring that only highly impactful scholars were considered. Furthermore, the majority of a qualifying researcher’s high-tier publications had to be concentrated in Business and Management. Evaluations also included consideration of notable awards and achievements within the field to provide a more nuanced measure of scholarly influence.
The threshold D-index for top researchers is dynamically set in increments of 10 based on the estimated total number of scholars within each discipline. This incremental approach guarantees that the top 1% of leading experts are incorporated into the ranking. Additionally, candidates must exhibit proximity between their general H-index and D-index of 30% or less, reinforcing consistency between their overall scholarly impact and discipline-specific contributions.
Verification and Validation Practices
The Research.com team recognizes that raw bibliometric data alone cannot serve as an absolute measure of a scholar’s output. In light of this, every scientist profile included in the ranking underwent manual verification. Researchers’ records were cross-correlated against a broad spectrum of trusted academic sources and publication records to confirm accuracy and attribute works appropriately.
While factors such as the number of papers published in prominent journals and conference proceedings do not directly influence the ranking position, they provide valuable secondary evidence of a scientist’s contribution to their field. This supplemental information is instrumental in contextualizing the impact of individual researchers beyond citation counts.
The final ranking positions are established based upon each researcher’s D-index derived from data aggregated primarily from OpenAlex and CrossRef. These databases represent the most prominent and widely recognized bibliometric resources available to the research community today.
For detailed insights into the methodology used to develop this ranking, please visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Vision
At Research.com, our core mission is to motivate the global community of researchers, companies, and policymakers to closely observe the evolution of scientific leadership across disciplines and geographies. By providing a transparent and meticulously curated listing of leading experts, we aim to enhance the visibility of top researchers at the country level, in specific fields of study, and within institutional settings.
We believe this ranking serves as an essential resource for fostering collaboration, informing strategic investment in research, and guiding academic institutions as they identify and support excellence. Through such tools, Research.com strives to empower the worldwide scientific community with accurate and actionable knowledge about who the key thought leaders are and where their expertise can be leveraged for future breakthroughs.
