Systematic literature review in management and business studies: a case study on university–industry collaboration

Although it first appeared in the medical sciences, the systematic literature review has become an established methodology in reviewing the accumulated knowledge in different fields. It is useful for scrutinizing and synthesizing a large volume of research on a specific topic or phenomenon, seeking to generate new insights from integrating empirical evidence, identifying knowledge gaps and inconsistencies, and setting directions for future research. Accordingly, in this case study, we aim to illustrate the steps for developing a rigorous systematic review in business and management research. Specifically, we reflect on our experience in systematically reviewing the research produced on University–Industry Collaboration phenomenon. We show examples of the different steps, stages, and activities involved in this approach, and discuss the various decisions we made throughout our research journey. Moreover, we provide learned lessons, highlight caveats, and offer suggestions and guidance for enhancing the rigor of future systematic literature review research.