Why Research Metrics Matter

If you are preparing for promotion, applying for funding, or simply curious about the visibility of your research, quantifying your scholarly impact is key. Research metrics offer insight into how your work is performing across academic and professional communities.

At SBM, we encourage all academic and postgraduate researchers to engage with performance indicators to better understand, showcase, and enhance their research trajectory.

Where Can You Find Research Metrics?

Several platforms track research activity, each with its own strengths. Business and management researchers will find useful metrics across the following systems:

Platform	What It Covers
Scopus + SciVal	Journal articles, citation analytics, and benchmarking tools
Web of Science	Peer-reviewed outputs and research influence tracking
Google Scholar	A broader view—includes journal articles, books, reports, and conference papers

Tip: Do not rely on one source. Each tool covers different material.

 

Measuring Journal Article Performance

Indicator	Where to Find It	Purpose
Total Citations	Scopus, WoS, Google Scholar	Tracks how often a paper is referenced
Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI)	Scopus	Measures performance relative to discipline averages
Citation Percentile / Article Rank	SciVal	Shows where your paper sits among global publications
Highly Cited Label	Web of Science	Recognizes papers in the top citation percentiles
Altmetrics	Scopus, Elements, Altmetric bookmarklet	Reflects online mentions (e.g. news, blogs, social media)

 

Books, Chapters & Monographs: How to Show Their Value

While not always captured by citation databases, books and chapters play a critical role in business scholarship.

Indicator	Tool or Source	Why It Matters
Citation Count	Google Scholar, Scopus (selectively)	Highlights reach within academic communities
Library Listings	WorldCat, Trove	Demonstrates global presence and accessibility
Publisher Reputation	Publisher website, academic rankings	Shows credibility of the outlet
Book Reviews / Awards	Google Scholar, Amazon, publisher pages	Indicates public or professional recognition

 

Conference Outputs: Recognising Scholarly Participation

What to Look For	Where to Check	Why It’s Useful
Citations to Conference Papers	Google Scholar, Scopus, WoS	Reflects academic use and reach
Reputation of the Conference	Official website, academic networks	Validates the importance of the platform
Organising Body Credibility	Host institution or journal partnerships	Adds weight to your participation

 

Building and Maintaining Your Researcher Profile

Your personal research profiles are foundational to how your work is tracked and evaluated.

Profile Platform	Key Metrics Available	Action Required
Scopus Author ID	Publications, h-index, FWCI	Check regularly and merge duplicates
Web of Science ID	Citations, highly cited papers	Claim and verify your profile
Google Scholar	Total citations, h-index, i10-index	Set up and maintain manually
ORCID	All publications synced across platforms	Link to Scopus and Web of Science

Ensure your institutional affiliation (USP) is consistently applied.

 

Research Benchmarking: How Do You Compare?

Benchmarking tools like SciVal help position your work in a broader context. These tools allow you to compare your research output against:

• Peers within your institution
• National or regional averages
• Global academic benchmarks

Metric Type	Useful For
Citation Impact	Measuring influence across fields
% of Publications Cited	Indicating reach of your work
Publications in Top Journals	Demonstrating journal quality
Collaboration Metrics	Showing research partnerships
International Reach	Tracking citations across countries

 

Keep These in Mind

• Update often: Your profiles (Scopus, Scholar, WoS) should reflect recent work.
• Check for errors: Ensure your outputs are attributed to the correct author profile.
• Be strategic: Choose the metrics that best reflect your research strengths.