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Understanding SME resilience: a bibliometric and thematic review of empirical research
Mini Dissertation (MPhil (Evidence-Based Management))--University of Pretoria, 2025
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613442529034240 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Lew, Charlene |
| author_browse | Lew, Charlene |
| author_facet | Lew, Charlene |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Mini Dissertation (MPhil (Evidence-Based Management))--University of Pretoria, 2025 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/109650 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:36:12.984Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/109650 Understanding SME resilience: a bibliometric and thematic review of empirical research Lew, Charlene ichelp@gibs.co.za Darroll, Brendon UCTD Resilience SME Entrepreneur Bibliometric analysis SLR Mini Dissertation (MPhil (Evidence-Based Management))--University of Pretoria, 2025 Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are a compelling unit of analysis to understanding the construct of resilience, given their heterogeneity, their importance in the global economy, and exposure to shocks. This systematic literature review (SLR) surfaces the need to reframe resilience as an equifinal measurement outcome emerging through the interplay of what firms have (resources), what they do (processes), and what they can become. The review highlights that the construct resilience remains congested with definitional ambiguity and methodological fragmentation. Following a bibliographic coupling technique, this review identifies 22 empirical articles that meet strict quality standards for inclusion. This review adopts a novel structured approach combining bibliographic coupling to identify shared knowledge foundations with reflexive, citation-led thematic analysis of those foundations. By examining how foundational citations are applied within clustered studies, the review identifies recurring conceptual frameworks, enabling traits, and theoretical anchors of SME resilience. The findings of this structured review reveal that resilience should be understood as a bridging construct situated between survival and success. Resilience is shaped by context, culture, the entrepreneur firm-nexus, and temporal phases of readiness, response, and recovery. The methodology and structured process applied in this review surfaces key conceptual patterns that may enable future researchers to build on shared knowledge foundations, offering a replicable approach for future structured literature reviews. Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MPhil (Evidence-Based Management) Unrestricted Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth 2026-04-21T08:46:09Z 2026-04-21T08:46:09Z 2026-05-05 2025 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109650 en © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Resilience SME Entrepreneur Bibliometric analysis SLR Understanding SME resilience: a bibliometric and thematic review of empirical research |
| title | Understanding SME resilience: a bibliometric and thematic review of empirical research |
| title_full | Understanding SME resilience: a bibliometric and thematic review of empirical research |
| title_fullStr | Understanding SME resilience: a bibliometric and thematic review of empirical research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding SME resilience: a bibliometric and thematic review of empirical research |
| title_short | Understanding SME resilience: a bibliometric and thematic review of empirical research |
| title_sort | understanding sme resilience a bibliometric and thematic review of empirical research |
| topic | UCTD Resilience SME Entrepreneur Bibliometric analysis SLR |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109650 |