Women in business process management : a systematic mapping

Abstract

In recent years, Business Process Management (BPM) has increasingly incorporated non-technical dimensions, recognizing cultural and social factors as critical to the success of BPM projects. Against this backdrop, this study investigates women’s participation in the BPM research domain, a field where their presence has traditionally been lower, especially in technology-related areas. Employing a systematic mapping methodology, the authors analyzed 5,029 scientific papers to assess patterns of authorship. The results demonstrate that women’s scientific production in BPM remains considerably below that of men, accounting for less than one-third of all identified authors. Moreover, this disparity exhibits a slight decreasing trend over time, revealing only modest progress in female participation. By providing empirical evidence of gender diversity trends in BPM academia, this research contributes valuable insights into women’s evolving role within the discipline and underscores the need for further efforts to foster inclusivity in this community.