Disruptive Technology Research Pathway: Term and Keyword View

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of disruptive technology (DT) research trends from 1996 to 2018. Using term and keyword clustering methods, we reveal a significant shift in focus areas, from initial emphasis on behavioral aspects to a growing emphasis on nature and vision perspectives. The research underscores the global attention DT has garnered, particularly in engineering, computer science, and business economics. Employing bibliometric tools, we identify ‘disruptive innovation’ as a central theme with the highest citation bursts, and the Gartner Hype Cycle as a pivotal framework. We also note the increasing volume of DT research publications and citations, with a marked upsurge between 2012 and 2015. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of continuous trend analysis for DT researchers to stay abreast of industry and technology implications, suggesting future research directions that include multi-modal data analysis and real-time feedback systems.