The Role of Digital Technology in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Systematic Literature Review, Bibliometric Analysis and Content Analysis

Abstract

Digital technology and SDGs have gained increasing interest from the research community. This chapter aims to explore the field through a holistic review of 188 publications from 2017 to 2022. For the systematic review of 188 articles, a three-step methodology comprising of PRISMA guidelines was performed, bibliometric analysis and text analysis using VOS-Viewer and Sentiment Analysis using RStudio had been undertaken. Bibliographic coupling revealed the following clusters Digital Space (Over all SDG), Localising SDGs, Financial Systems and Growth (SDG 8), Sustainable Supply Chain (SDG 9), Education (SDG 4), Energy Management (SDG 7), Smart Cities (SDG 11 and 13), Gender, Skills, and Responsibility (SDG 5 and 12), Food Management (SDG 1, 2 and 3), Business Innovation (SDG 8 and 9) and ICT (SDG 9). Next, co-occurrence analysis highlighted the following clusters Circular Economy (SDG 8), Higher Education System (SDG 4), Digital health (SDG 3), Industry 4.0 (SDG 9) and Supply Chain Management (SDG 9). Next, text analysis traced the most relevant areas of work within the theme. Finally, sentiment analysis revealed positive sentiments of the field. The research concluded that only a few SDGs had found major focus while the others don't have any solid ground in the literature. This chapter presents a knowledge structure by mapping the most relevant SDGs in the context of digital technology and sets directions for future research.

Citation

Bathla, A., Aggarwal, P. and Manaswi, K. (2023), "The Role of Digital Technology in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Systematic Literature Review, Bibliometric Analysis and Content Analysis", Sharma, R., Shishodia, A. and Gupta, A. (Ed.) Fostering Sustainable Development in the Age of Technologies, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-060-120231003