Leadership Development in Sustainable HRM: A Bibliometric Study

Abstract

This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the intellectual landscape of leadership development within the field of sustainable human resource management (HRM). Using the Scopus database and visualized through VOSviewer, the analysis explores research patterns, influential authors, institutional collaborations, and thematic evolutions from 2016 to 2024. Findings reveal that sustainable development and leadership function as central anchors of the literature, with growing emphasis on green HRM, ethical leadership, green transformational leadership, and innovation-driven sustainability. The temporal overlay shows a shift from foundational sustainability concepts toward applied research focused on organizational performance, environmental outcomes, and leadership behaviors that promote employee green practices. Co-authorship and country networks highlight strong global collaboration, particularly among the United Kingdom, China, and India. The study contributes to the theoretical integration of leadership and sustainable HRM while offering practical insights for designing sustainability-oriented leadership development programs. Limitations and future research opportunities are also identified to support continued advancement of this emerging field.