How to Report Systematic Literature Reviews in Management Using SyReMa

Abstract

The systematic literature review (SLR) method is becoming more prevalent in the field of management and administration. It is a research method that involves the selection, analysis, and evaluation of the best available evidence in a given thematic area. However, SLR must follow a series of steps that allow its replicability, and it must satisfy several minimum requirements to ensure validity. The present study provides a tool that outlines these steps and requirements. We first examined the instruments that are used in other disciplines along with the editorial standards for publication in journals in the field. Subsequently, we developed a checklist and had it validated by experts using the Delphi method. The checklist for reporting management literature review systems—SyReMa—contains 32 items divided into the following sections: general aspects, introduction, methodology, synthesis of results, discussion, and conclusions. Each item should be evaluated in terms of whether it is present in the SLR; whether it is clear or requires greater precision and whether it is applicable, given the characteristics of the subject matter. The SyReMa checklist will help authors, editors, reviewers, and readers improve the quality and accuracy of SLRs and clarify the contributions they make. It could also be used as a teaching tool for future researchers.

Keywords

• evidence-based management
• literature review
• management research
• methodology
• publications
• scientific article