**4. Conclusions**

*Scientometrics Recent Advances*

IMS and strategy, performance and innovation

Analysis of integration levels and motivations, benefits and difficulties of IMS implementation

IMS methods, guidelines and maturity model

IMS and corporate social

responsibility

*Group analysis [13].*

**Table 5.**

presented as shown in **Table 5**.

"Integrated Management Systems."

the art are indicated in the map of interactions.

relations of interactions between the various groups.

In addition to the time line, the groups and their respective contributions can be

After grouping the topics and understanding the particularities of each group, it is recommended to identify if there is any relation between them, that is, if there is a structure of evolution according to which one group gave support to the development of another. **Figure 11** shows a map of interactions with the interactions

As shown in **Figure 11**, it is common for the more mature groups to influence the development of more recent ones, as the publications of a group can add important contributions and indicate gaps that may create trends of research to advance the state of the art of a given study field as a whole. It is important that the synergies between the groups and the pathway of formation and development of the state of

The analysis of interactions is a final analysis that must be conducted with a systemic view, because from it the researcher can perceive interaction relationships with potential to give rise to groups with original research proposals. Upon reaching this point of application of the method, the researcher is expected to know the particularities of the field under study and the main groups belonging to it, so that the analyses performed previously will provide support for the identification of

It can be seen in **Table 5** that the 30 articles analyzed were classified into 5 groups, each one adding value to an important area of the state of the art on

between the research groups on "Integrated Management Systems."

**Group Contribution Author(s) (year)**

conduct companies to achieve the sustained success

The IMS is a strategic asset that has positive impact on innovation, financial, operational and marketing firm performance

There are different levels of integration (normally three) which characterize the nature of motivations, benefits and difficulties of implementation

Methods, guidelines and a maturity model are proposed in order to facilitate and/or "normalize" the integration

The IMS structure provides the integration of CSR

process

Author1 et al. (2016), Author2 et al. (2016), Author3 et al. (2016), Author4 et al. (2016), Author5 et al. (2015), Author6 (2008), Author7 and Author8 (2004),

Author10 and Author11 (2015), Author12 (2014), Author13 et al. (2013), Author14

Author12 et al. (2015), Author15 and Author16 (2015), Author17 et al. (2014), Author12 et al. (2012), Author18 et al. (2012), Author19 et al. (2012), Author20 et al. (2012), Author18 et al. (2011), Author21 et al. (2011), Author12 et al. (2010), Author12 et al. (2009), Author22 and Author23 (2009), Author24 (2008),

Author25 et al. (2016), Author26 (2013),

Author9 (1995)

et al. (2007)

Author6 et al. (2006)

Author28 et al. (2013)

Author27 (2004)

IMS and sustainability The IMS is a driver that can

**62**

In this chapter, a method of bibliometric analysis was proposed in order to help researchers develop a relevant research project based on the mapping of the state of the art of a given topic and the identification, grouping, and analysis of gaps and trends of research.

It was observed that the choice of the scientific research platform to be used in the study is one of the actions that has a significant impact in the bibliometric analysis and, therefore, must be careful and well planned so that the research will return assertive results and reworking will not be necessary in the subsequent stages of the analysis. In addition, it was verified that it is necessary to establish criteria to perform the search of the articles, which must take into account the research topic, the objectives of the study, and the limits of the research field.

In the proposed method, the mapping of the state of the art should be initiated with the definition of the bibliometric parameters by the researcher, which has to be consistent with those available in the scientific research platforms. By analyzing the data mined, it is possible to compare the performance of the literature according to each platform to corroborate, complement, or refute results.

It is concluded that the use of data extracted from two or more platforms can result in a more robust and consistent bibliometric analysis. However, it is possible that the researcher faces difficulties in the integration stage of the data. In this sense, it is important to highlight that although there are computational tools that help the integration of this data, these still need great improvements, demanding extreme attention of the researcher in the process of mining and analysis of the data.

The analyses presented in this chapter are important elements to expose and explain the scientific gaps present in the literature that can base research projects. Therefore, it can be concluded that the method presented is essential to help researchers to develop their research in a way that they actually bring out significant contributions to the literature. It is also concluded that the application of this method can result in the expansion of the frontiers of science by promoting the investigation of relevant and avant-garde topics.

The main scientific contribution of this chapter is the possibility of using the proposed method to help the development of new studies, based on bibliometric analyses aimed at the identification of scientific gaps and trends, thus encouraging the development and expansion of the state of the art of various fields of research.

It is also worth noting that the mapping of the state of the art and the identification of scientific gaps and trends can lead the researcher to develop studies whose results are important advances in the development of a technology, technique, or scientific area. In this way, it is notorious that the presented method can aid in the process of transformation of a scientific project into a workable product, being this the main applied contribution of this study.

Finally, it should be pointed out that the results achieved with the application of the proposed method may vary according to the experience and familiarity of the researcher with the scientific area under study.
