Management capabilities in poverty alleviation: a bibliometric review of practices in religious organizations

Purpose The purpose of this study is to understand whether and how managerial competencies have been studied in the management field in the context of religious entities and their effort to alleviate poverty in its various forms. Design/methodology/approach This text uses a bibliometric review to analyze the presence of managerial competencies in nonmanagerial studies. This study adopts the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses protocol and uses website searches on the Web of Science and Scopus. Findings Findings focus on social and spiritual impacts, with less attention paid to managerial aspects. A significant study gap on the application and relevance of managerial competencies within these organizations suggests a clear direction for future research. Practical implications This research reveals a need for more managerial focus in studies on religious organizations which address the issue of poverty. Implementing professional practices, rigorous evaluation, continuous training and strategic collaboration is essential to optimize resources and improve the effectiveness of these organizations in poverty alleviation. Social implications This study stresses the importance of improved analysis of the needs of impoverished communities and the social impacts of interventions. It aims to enhance managerial expertise in the management of poverty; improve organizational effectiveness; and optimize managerial competencies in religious and social contexts. Originality/value This study highlights a need for bibliometric studies on the link between religious organizations and poverty alleviation. In addition, it notes that research has yet to explore the role of managerial competencies in this context. This combination of unexplored areas contributes to the paper’s originality.