Organizational sustainability in the face of digital transformation with a bibliometric and content analysis for future research agenda

Abstract This study explores the intersection of organizational sustainability and digital transformation by providing a comprehensive bibliometric and content analysis of existing literature. Using data from the Scopus database, the research employs bibliometric tools such as VOSviewer to analyze trends, identify key themes, and map the intellectual structure of the field. The analysis focuses on publications from 2016 to 2025, highlighting the significant growth of research in this domain, particularly after 2018, indicating a rising scholarly interest in sustainable digital innovation. The Results reveal that most publications are concentrated in high-impact journals, with top contributing countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Germany. Affiliations are drawn mainly from prestigious academic institutions, underscoring the field’s strong educational foundation. Co-authorship analysis illustrates moderate yet increasing international collaboration, with developed countries leading the partnerships. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identifies five prominent thematic clusters centered around digital transformation, sustainability, innovation, Industry 4.0, and organizational performance. Content analysis of the most highly cited articles reveals a growing emphasis on integrating digital technologies, such as AI, IoT, and blockchain, into sustainable business strategies to enhance efficiency, transparency, and adaptability. These articles underline the importance of aligning digital innovation with environmental and social goals. This study provides Practical recommendations to organizations, managers, and employees. Theoretical implications by showing how digital transformation and sustainability intersect with disruptive innovation, absorptive capacity, network theory, and institutional theory, emphasizing the need for inclusive, knowledge-driven, and ethically grounded organizational change. The study acknowledges limitations, including the exclusive use of the Scopus database, which may omit relevant literature from other sources. Additionally, the rapidly evolving nature of digital technologies may lead to shifts in trends not yet captured by current publications. Despite these constraints, the research provides valuable insights and lays a foundation for future studies at the intersection of sustainability and digital transformation.