Trends 2024 in the Area of Business, Management, and Accounting

Abstract

In the latest measurements of the Scimago Journal Ranking (SJR), 387 journals have been ranked within the field of knowledge that broadly connects the areas of business, management, and accounting. According to this ranking, 25% of these journals are positioned in the first quartile (Q1). Most of them are published in the United States and Eastern Europe, with only 11 Latin American journals represented, among which one Colombian journal stands out. Within this group of journals, the average number of citations per document does not exceed one citation, whereas journals ranked in the first quartile (Q1) average five citations per document. Furthermore, the most highly cited works are review articles or those that establish research trends in the field or provide fundamental theoretical foundations (SJR, 2024).

Based on direct searches conducted in the SCOPUS database, several themes shaping the trends for 2024 in management, business, and accounting were identified. Prominent topics include sustainable development, with a total of 1,151 publications, followed by decision-making, with 1,068 publications. Significant interest is also observed in areas such as sustainability, the impact of COVID-19 and its post-pandemic effects, as well as innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) (SCOPUS, 2024).

Among these topics, the works that have received the greatest attention in terms of citations include the use of AI in the tourism sector, efficiency assessments in accounting systems during the pandemic, digital strategies for new ventures, green economy and environmental innovation, challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the post-COVID-19 pandemic context, digital transformation processes in employee management, blockchain technology applications for traceability and transparency in supply chains, as well as the impact of carbon emissions in organizations incorporating information and communication technologies.

Other emerging aspects that are shaping research agendas in these fields include growing interest in corporate social and environmental responsibility, the adoption of Industry 4.0 in supply chains, and regulations concerning organizational management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These same trends have recently been validated by Forbes magazine, which categorizes them as follows: the use of AI as both a strategy and a learning tool; personal skills and fundamental organizational aspects that cannot be automated or replaced by AI; sustainable business practices—currently a challenge for most organizations—emphasizing commitment to reducing carbon footprints, promoting growth toward a green economy, and improving management skills with social responsibility (Marr, 2023).

In addition, increasing emphasis is placed on the use of big data for decision-making, becoming a valuable tool for enhancing competitive advantage and customer experience, especially when combined with AI. Finally, attention is drawn to the growing trend toward remote work after the pandemic, with a focus on productivity, employee well-being, and worker satisfaction as key aspects to be considered within organizational settings (Marr, 2023).

In conclusion, these fields continue to evolve by integrating interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, which, together with the epistemological foundations of management, business, and accounting, contributes to the advancement of the state of the art in science and establishes clear directions regarding the trends demanded by organizations and the broader field of knowledge.