LAUSR

An extensive body of work investigates business phenomena from the capability perspective introduced by Teece, Pisano, and Shuen (1997). While several literature reviews on capabilities exist, research is still fragmented with ongoing debates between those trying to foster relevance and passionate critics in favour of rigour. This study contributes to the conversation by looking at how the community of scholars gathered around Industrial Marketing Management (IMM) has engaged with this body of work and, in turn, influenced other sub-communities. Specifically, using the CitNetExplorer software, we analyse all IMM capabilities-related publications and their direct influence on other journals. The findings unveil seven thematic clusters that highlight how IMM scholars have expanded capability research by deepening the understanding of its relational foundations. Our data not only reinforce prior warnings about weak validity, but also uncover signs that suggest that the IMM community is on a path of theoretical consolidation with potential benefits for the broader conversation.