The intellectual legacy of Erving Goffman in management studies: a citation context analysis

Purpose This study aims to examine Erving Goffman’s contributions to management, arguing that he is an unrecognized management guru despite being widely regarded as a sociological theorist. Design/methodology/approach Using citation context analysis, this research analyzes 806 articles citing Goffman’s works across eight major management journals. This method involves coding articles from various perspectives, including the content itself, its temporal dynamics, depth and criticalness. Findings All 11 of Goffman’s books have been cited in management studies with increasing frequency and depth, supporting theories such as impression management and stigma management. Yet, only 10.8% of these articles provide empirical support, and 1.6% challenge his ideas, indicating a ritualistic reverence rather than rigorous scrutiny of his theories in management scholarship. Research limitations/implications This study excludes other high-quality journals and involves subjective judgment in coding. In addition, this study’s insights into Goffman’s selective attention and growing prominence remain speculative. Future research could broaden journal coverage, survey scholars’ citation motivations, and apply a difference-in-differences approach to identify causal factors. Social implications Goffman’s concepts of stigma, impression management and framing are frequently cited by management scholars, reflecting societal concerns for marginalized groups and a quest for authenticity, thus prompting deeper exploration of Goffman’s seminal works. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to empirically analyze his impact on management, offering new insights into his influence in the field.